Saddle-type electric vehicle

ABSTRACT

A vehicle includes a battery supported by an elastic member. The vehicle is provided with a connector that is electrically connected to a connector on the battery. The connector on the vehicle is switched between an unlock state in which the movement of the connector on the vehicle is allowed to follow the oscillation of the battery, and a lock state in which the movement of the connector on the vehicle is restricted. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a stress from being applied to the connector on the battery and the connector on the vehicle when a vehicle is travelling, and it is possible to smoothly connect the connector on the battery and the connector on the vehicle when a user mounts the battery on the vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority from Japanese applicationJP2013-230705 filed on Nov. 6, 2013, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a saddle-type electric vehicle equippedwith a battery that supplies electrical power to an electric motor andis configured to be attached to, and detached from, the vehicle,particularly, to a technology by which a connector of the battery and aconnector provided in the vehicle are appropriately connected to eachother.

2. Description of the Related Art

The development of a saddle-type electric vehicle has made progress, inwhich a rear wheel that is a drive wheel is driven by an electric motor.JP 2010-18270 A discloses an electric two-wheel vehicle as an example ofthe saddle-type electric vehicle. The vehicle disclosed in JP 2010-18270A includes a configuration in which a battery to supply electrical powerto the electric motor can be detached from a vehicle body for thecharging thereof. When the battery is mounted on the vehicle body, aconnector (for example, a receptacle connector) of the battery iselectrically connected to a connector (for example, a plug connector)provided in the vehicle body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A structure is considered in which the battery is supported via anelastic member so as to reduce impacts that are applied to the batterydue to the oscillations of the vehicle while the vehicle is travelling.In this structure, when the vehicle oscillates, the battery oscillatesslightly as well. When the connector on the vehicle is fixed, and thebattery oscillates, a stress is applied to the terminals of theconnector of the battery and the terminals of the connector on thevehicle.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide saddle-typeelectric vehicles that prevent a stress from being applied to aconnector on a battery and a connector on a vehicle while a vehicle istravelling, and smoothly connect the connector on the battery and theconnector on the vehicle when a user mounts the battery on the vehicle.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, asaddle-type electric vehicle includes an electric motor configured todrive a drive wheel; a battery configured to be attached to, anddetached from, a vehicle, and to supply electrical power to the electricmotor; a connector on the battery; an elastic member provided on thevehicle and configured to support the battery; and a connector on thevehicle configured to be electrically connected to the connector on thebattery. The connector on the vehicle is configured to be switchedbetween an unlock state in which movement of the connector on thevehicle follows oscillations of the battery, and a lock state in whichthe movement of the connector on the vehicle is restricted or prevented.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it ispossible to prevent a stress from being applied between the terminals ofthe connector on the vehicle and the terminals of the connector on thebattery, specifically, the wear of the terminals by bringing theconnectors into the unlock state while the vehicle is travelling. It ispossible to smoothly connect the connector on the vehicle and theconnector on the battery by bringing the connector on the vehicle intothe lock state when a user mounts the battery on the vehicle.

A saddle-type electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention preferably further includes a user-operableoperation member configured to switch the state of the connector on thevehicle between the unlock state and the lock state. Accordingly, it ispossible to switch the state of the connector on the vehicle upon theintention of the user.

In a saddle-type electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the operation member is preferably configured tomove between a first position and a second position. The saddle-typeelectric vehicle is preferably provided with a transmission mechanismconfigured to transmit the movement of the operation member to theconnector on the vehicle, to bring the connector on the vehicle into theunlock state when the operation member is located at the first position,and to bring the connector on the vehicle into the lock state when theoperation member is located at the second position. Accordingly, sincethe movement of the operation member is mechanically transmitted to theconnector, it is possible to switch the state of the connector on thevehicle with a simple structure compared to a structure in which thestate of the connector is switched using an actuator.

In a saddle-type electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the transmission mechanism preferably includes alock member configured to move between an engaging position at which thelock member engages with the connector on the vehicle and the connectoron the vehicle is brought into the lock state, and a release position atwhich the lock member separates from the connector on the vehicle andthe connector on the vehicle is brought into the unlock state. Theoperation member and the lock member are preferably connected to eachother, the lock member is preferably disposed at the release positionwhen the operation member is located at the first position, and the lockmember is preferably disposed at the engaging position when theoperation member is located at the second position. Accordingly, sincethe movement of the operation member is mechanically transmitted to theconnector, it is possible to switch the state of the connector on thevehicle with a simple structure compared to a structure in which thestate of the connector is switched using an actuator.

In a saddle-type electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the battery is preferably vertically attached to,and detached from, the vehicle. The vehicle preferably includes abattery accommodating portion that includes a bottom portion on whichthe battery is disposed. The elastic member and the connector on thevehicle are preferably provided in the bottom portion. Accordingly, itis possible to absorb the oscillations of the battery caused by thevertical movement of the vehicle using the elastic member.

In a saddle-type electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the operation member is preferably located higherthan the battery. Accordingly, the user has easy access to the operationmember.

In a saddle-type electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the operation member preferably includes a coverconfigured to cover the battery, and to be opened and closed.Accordingly, the user has easy access to the operation member, and it ispossible to reduce the number of components.

In a saddle-type electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the first position of the operation member ispreferably a closed position of the cover, and the second position ofthe operation member is preferably an open position of the cover.Accordingly, it is possible to bring the connector on the vehicle intothe lock state when the user opens the cover.

In a saddle-type electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, a plurality of batteries are preferably providedas the battery. A plurality of connectors are preferably provided as theconnector on the vehicle, and are respectively connected to theconnectors on the plurality of batteries. The transmission mechanism ispreferably configured to limit the movement of the plurality ofconnectors provided on the vehicle when the operation member is locatedat the second position, and to allow the movement of the plurality ofconnectors provided on the vehicle when the operation member is locatedat the first position. Accordingly, since it is possible to switch thestates of the plurality of connectors at once by operating the operationmember, it is possible to improve work efficiency.

In a saddle-type electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the battery is preferably attached to, anddetached from, the vehicle in a first direction. One of the connector onthe vehicle and the connector on the battery preferably includes anengaging member configured to move between an engaging position at whichthe engaging member engages with the other of the connector on thevehicle and the connector on the battery so that the engaging memberprevents the separation of the battery from the connector on the vehiclein the first direction, and a release position at which the engagingmember releases the other of the connector on the vehicle and theconnector on the battery so that the battery is allowed to separate fromthe connector on the vehicle in the first direction. Accordingly, it ispossible to improve the stability of the connection between theconnector on the vehicle and the connector on the battery.

In a saddle-type electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the engaging member is preferably provided tomove while connected with an operation member that is configured toattach and detach the battery from the vehicle by an operator.Accordingly, it is possible to switch the state of the connector on thevehicle via a simple operation.

In a saddle-type electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the operation member is preferably a carryinghandle of the battery. Accordingly, it is possible to switch the stateof the connector on the vehicle via a simple operation.

The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics andadvantages of the present invention will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments withreference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a saddle-type electric vehicle according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a frame of the saddle-typeelectric vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a battery case of the frame.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a case formed by the battery case and a motorcase.

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating an internal part of the case. In FIG.5, a left case half body of the case is partially removed.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the battery case illustrated in FIG.5.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of a side wall portion of thebattery case. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view taken along lineVIIa-VIIa illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view takenalong line VIIb-VIIb illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an adjustermechanism.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example of a connector provided in thevehicle body and an example of a transmission mechanism that transmitsthe movement of the case cover as an operation member to the connectorprovided in the vehicle body.

FIG. 10 is a view when the transmission mechanism is seen in a directionof arrow X illustrated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the connector and a lock member of thetransmission mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the connector and the lock member ofthe transmission mechanism.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are views illustrating a modification example of amechanism that limits the movement of a battery with respect to theconnector.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the battery.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the battery.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the battery.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are views illustrating a modification example of thebattery case and the motor case.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are views illustrating a modification example of thebattery case and the motor case.

FIG. 19 is a side view illustrating another example of an electrictwo-wheel vehicle.

FIG. 20 is a side view illustrating a connection structure between anupper cover and the case cover of the electric two-wheel vehicleillustrated in FIG. 19.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are views illustrating the movement of an upper coverand the case cover.

FIG. 22 is a view illustrating a modification example of the batterycase and the motor case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a saddle-type electric vehicle and a battery equippedtherein according to preferred embodiments of the present invention willbe described. FIG. 1 is a side view of the saddle-type electric vehicleaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In thisspecification, an electric two-wheel vehicle 1 as an example of thesaddle-type electric vehicle will be described. The saddle-type electricvehicle is not limited to an electric two-wheel vehicle, and may be afour-wheel all-terrain vehicle or recreational off-highway vehicle, forexample. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a frame of theelectric two-wheel vehicle 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a battery case 50of the frame. FIG. 4 is a side view of a case C defined by the batterycase 50 and a motor case 70 (to be described later). FIG. 5 is a sideview illustrating an internal portion of the case C. In FIG. 5, a leftcase half body CL of the case C is partially removed.

In the following description, Y1 and Y2 illustrated in FIG. 1 indicateforward and rearward directions, respectively, and Z1 and Z2 indicateupward and downward directions, respectively. X1 and X2 illustrated inFIG. 3 indicate rightward and leftward directions, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a front wheel 2 of the electric two-wheelvehicle 1 is supported by lower ends of a front fork 3. The front fork 3can turn rightward and leftward about a steering shaft supported by ahead pipe 41 (refer to FIG. 2) (to be described below). A handlebar 4 isattached to an upper portion of the front fork 3. Opposite end portionsof the handlebar 4 are respectively provided with grips 4 a. The rightgrip functions as an accelerator grip.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a rear wheel 5 which is a drive wheel of theelectric two-wheel vehicle 1 is supported by a rear arm 7. The rear arm7 is supported by a pivot shaft 8 that is provided at a front end of therear arm 7. The rear wheel 5 and the rear arm 7 can vertically moveabout the pivot shaft 8.

The electric two-wheel vehicle 1 includes a drive system 20 thatincludes an electric motor 21 configured to drive the rear wheel 5. Thedrive system 20 includes a speed reducer mechanism that reduces therotation of the electric motor 21 and transmits the rotation to theoutput shaft 23. For example, the speed reducer mechanism includes agear and a belt. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the speed reducer mechanismin the example described here includes a gear 22 that includes alarge-diameter gear portion 22 a that engages with a rotary shaft 21 aof the electric motor 21 and a small-diameter gear portion 22 b thatengages with a gear of the output shaft 23. The drive system 20 isaccommodated in the motor case 70 (to be described below). The outputshaft 23 is provided with a rotating member 23 a that is exposedlaterally out of the motor case 70. For example, the rotating member 23a is a sprocket and a pulley. The rotation of the rotating member 23 ais transmitted to the rear wheel 5 via a power transmission member 24including a belt or a chain. The rotating member 23 a is preferably agear (for example, a bevel gear). In this case, the transmission member24 is preferably a shaft.

The electric two-wheel vehicle 1 includes a battery 30 configured tosupply electricity to the electric motor 21. The battery 30 ispreferably a lithium ion battery, for example, but the type of thebattery 30 is not limited to this example. The electric two-wheelvehicle 1 in the example illustrated here preferably includes aplurality of batteries 30. More specifically, the electric two-wheelvehicle 1 includes two batteries 30, for example (refer to FIG. 2). Thenumber of batteries 30 is not limited to two, and for example, theelectric two-wheel vehicle 1 may include three or four batteries 30. Thebatteries 30 can be attached to, and detached from, the vehicle body,and a user can detach the batteries 30 from the vehicle body and chargethe batteries 30 with a battery charger.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the electric two-wheel vehicle 1 includes thebattery case 50 as a configuration member of a frame, and the batteries30 are accommodated in the battery case 50. The battery case 50 in theexample illustrated in FIG. 2 accommodates the plurality of batteries30. The battery case 50 preferably has a box shape with an open topsurface, and the batteries 30 can be vertically attached to, anddetached from, the vehicle body. A case cover 60 is provided to coverthe opening of the battery case 50. The size of the case cover 60preferably corresponds to the opening of the battery case 50, and thebattery case 50 is closed with the case cover 60.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the battery case 50 includes a front wallportion 52 that defines a front surface of the battery case 50, sidewall portions 53 that define right and left side surfaces thereof, and arear wall portion 54 that defines a rear surface thereof. These wallportions 52, 53, and 54 surround the batteries 30. Accordingly, it ispossible to effectively protect the batteries 30. The battery case 50 ispreferably made of metal. For example, the material of the battery case50 may be aluminum, iron, magnesium, or an alloy thereof. The batterycase 50 includes a bottom portion 55 that supports a lower surface ofeach of the batteries 30 (refer to FIG. 5). The battery case 50 and thecase cover 60 in the closed state define a box where all of a frontsurface, a rear surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and right andleft surfaces of the box are closed.

In the present example, the electric two-wheel vehicle 1 includes thecase C including the battery case 50 and the motor case 70, and the caseC includes a right case half body CR and a left case half body CL whichare assembled together in a lateral direction of the vehicle (adirection of the vehicle width) (refer to FIG. 3). Each of the case halfbodies CR and CL is an integral member. For example, the bottom portion55 of the battery case 50 is a member that is separate from the casehalf bodies CR and CL. The bottom portion 55 is fixed to the case halfbodies CR and CL with tightening members such as bolts or screws, forexample. The structure of the battery case 50 is not limited to that inthis example. For example, the bottom portion 55 may be integral withthe case half bodies CR and CL.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the battery case 50 is positioned to the rearof the head pipe 41 that supports the steering shaft. The head pipe 41is connected to a front portion of the battery case 50. Accordingly, thebattery case 50 can function as not only a member to accommodate thebatteries 30, but also as a portion of the frame. As a result, it ispossible to reduce the weight of the vehicle body, and reduce thevehicle width compared with the same in a structure where right and leftframes are located on the right side and the left side of the batterycase 50. In the present example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the head pipe41 is connected to the front wall portion 52 of the battery case 50. Inaddition, the head pipe 41 may be connected to a front portion of eachof the side wall portions 53 of the battery case 50. Here, the structurein which “the head pipe 41 is connected to the battery case 50” includesnot only a structure in which the head pipe 41 is attached to thebattery case 50 with fasteners such as bolts, but also a structure inwhich the head pipe 41 is integral with the battery case 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, the electric two-wheel vehicle 1includes a foremost frame portion 40 that extends rearward from the headpipe 41 as a configuration member of the frame. The head pipe 41 in FIG.2 is integral with the foremost frame portion 40. The foremost frameportion 40 is attached to the front portion of the battery case 50 withtightening members such as bolts, for example. By virtue of thisstructure, it is possible to use the battery case 50 which is common fora plurality of vehicle body models in which the shape of the foremostframe portion 40, the angle of the head pipe 41, and the like arerespectively different from each other. The structures of the foremostframe portion 40 and the battery case 50 are not limited to those in theabove-mentioned example. For example, the foremost frame portion 40 maybe integral with the battery case 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the foremost frame portion 40 in the exampledescribed here is positioned to the front of the battery case 50, and isattached to the battery case 50 in a front-rear direction of thevehicle. That is, the battery case 50 and the foremost frame portion 40define the front surface and the rear surface, respectively, which areconnected to each other in the front-rear direction. When the vehicle istravelling, a force of pushing the battery case 50 rearward may beapplied from the head pipe 41. By virtue of the above-mentioned fixingstructure of the battery case 50 and the foremost frame portion 40, itis possible to increase resistance of the frame against this force. InFIG. 2, a rear portion of the foremost frame portion 40 is provided withattachment places 40 c through which tightening members such as boltsare inserted from a front side. The foremost frame portion 40 and thebattery case 50 are fixed together with the tightening members. Thefixing structure of the foremost frame portion 40 and the battery case50 is not limited to that in the present example. For example, theforemost frame portion 40 and the battery case 50 may be attachedtogether in the lateral direction. Specifically, a forward protrudingportion may be provided in the front wall portion 52 of the battery case50, and the protruding portion may be fixed to the rear portion of theforemost frame portion 40 in the lateral direction. The foremost frameportion 40 may include portions that are respectively positioned besidethe side wall portions 53 of the battery case 50, and the portions ofthe foremost frame portion 40 may be respectively fixed to frontportions of the side wall portions 53 in the lateral direction.

The lateral width of the foremost frame portion 40 in the exampledescribed here gradually increases rearward from the head pipe 41. Byvirtue of the shape of the foremost frame portion 40, it is possible toincrease the strength of the frame. In the present example, the lateralwidth of a rear end of the foremost frame portion 40 corresponds to thefront wall portion 52 of the battery case 50. The rear end of theforemost frame portion 40 is attached to right and left ends of thefront surface of the front wall portion 52. By virtue of this structure,not only the front wall portion 52 of the battery case 50 but also theright and left side wall portions 53 are configured to receive a forceof pushing the battery case 50 rearward, which is applied from the headpipe 41. As a result, it is possible to further increase resistance ofthe frame against the force applied from the head pipe 41 to the batterycase 50 toward the rear. The lateral width of the rear end of theforemost frame portion 40 may not necessarily correspond to the frontwall portion 52 of the battery case 50.

The foremost frame portion 40 in the example described here extendsrearward from the head pipe 41 while being split into two branches.Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the weight of the foremost frameportion 40. The foremost frame portion 40 may not necessarily extendrearward from the head pipe 41 while being split into two branches.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the vertical height of the foremost frameportion 40 in the example described here gradually increases rearwardfrom the head pipe 41. By virtue of the shape of the foremost frameportion 40, it is possible to increase the number of attachment portions40 c between the foremost frame portion 40 and the front wall portion 52of the battery case 50 in the vertical direction. As a result, it ispossible to increase the strength of the battery case 50 against a forcethat is applied from the foremost frame portion 40 to the battery case50 when the front wheel 2 moves in the vertical direction. A lowersurface 40 a of the foremost frame portion 40 in the example illustratedin FIG. 2 extends rearward, and is inclined rearward further than anupper surface 40 b. The foremost frame portion 40 is attached to thefront wall portion 52 of the battery case 50 using a plurality of theattachment portions 40 c (four attachment portions 40 c in the exampleillustrated in FIG. 2) that are aligned in the vertical direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the frame includes a seat rail 59 a thatextends rearward from the battery case 50. The seat rail 59 a supports aseat 6 (refer to FIG. 1) on which a rider can straddle. For example, theseat rail 59 a is fixed to the rear wall portion 54 of the battery case50. The frame includes a stay 59 b that extends rearward and upward froma lower portion of the rear wall portion 54, and is connected to theseat rail 59 a. As illustrated in FIG. 1, in the electric two-wheelvehicle 1 in the example described here, a rear portion of the seat 6 ispositioned upward of the seat rail 59 a, and a front portion of the seat6 is positioned upward of the case cover 60. The front portion of theseat 6 is supported by the case cover 60. In the electric two-wheelvehicle 1 with this structure, for example, a user can detach the seat 6via a key operation, and then open the case cover 60. In the presentexample, the front portion of the seat 6 may be hooked into an uppersurface of the case cover 60.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the side wall portions 53 of thebattery case 50 in the example described here includes an upper edgethat extends forward and upward. Specifically, an upper edge 53 h of thefront portion of each of the side wall portions 53 extends forward andupward. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the vertical position ofthe rear portion of the case cover 60 from being increased in height,and maintain the position of the seat 6 at an appropriate height.Further, it is possible to increase, in the vertical direction, thenumber of connection portions between the battery case 50 and theforemost frame portion 40 while appropriately maintaining the height ofthe seat 6.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the battery case 50 in the example describedhere has a length in the front-rear direction greater than a width inthe lateral direction. Accordingly, it is possible to secure the size ofthe batteries 30, in other words, the charging capacity of the batteries30 while preventing an increase in the vehicle width. As describedabove, the battery case 50 accommodates the plurality of batteries 30.The battery case 50 in the example described here accommodates twobatteries 30. The two batteries 30 are arranged in the lateraldirection. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the battery case 50 includes a beamportion 51 therein, and the beam portion 51 is disposed between the twobatteries 30, and extends rearward from the front wall portion 52. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, it is preferable that the beam portion 51 extendrearward from the front wall portion 52, and then be connected to therear wall portion 54. The beam portion 51 may extend rearward from thefront wall portion 52, and then may be connected to a rear portion ofthe bottom portion 55 of the battery case 50.

As described above, when the vehicle is travelling, a force of pushingthe front wall portion 52 of the battery case 50 may be applied from thehead pipe 41 due to the vertical movement of the front wheel 2. In thisexample, the right and left side wall portions 53 are deformed to swellin the rightward and leftward directions, respectively, depending on therigidity of the battery case 50. In particular, since the battery case50 in the example described here has a length in the front-reardirection greater than a width in the lateral direction, the side wallportions 53 are likely to be deformed. It is possible to secure therigidity of the battery case 50, that is, the rigidity of the frame,while preventing this deformation by virtue of the beam portion 51.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the beam portion 51 is preferably connected tonot only the front wall portion 52 and the rear wall portion 54 but alsothe bottom portion 55. It is possible to further improve the rigidity ofthe battery case 50 by virtue of the structure of the beam portion 51.The beam portion 51 in the example illustrated in FIG. 5 is connected toa portion (specifically, a center portion in the front-rear direction)of the bottom portion 55. The shape of the beam portion 51 is notlimited to that in the present example. For example, the beam portion 51may have a rectangular or substantially rectangular shape in a sideview, which corresponds to an inner surface of the battery case 50. Thatis, a lower edge of the beam portion 51 may extend from a foremostportion of the bottom portion 55 to a rearmost portion thereof.

The beam portion 51 may preferably include at least two portions thatextend at least in two directions which are respectively inclined withrespect to each other in a side view of the vehicle body. Specifically,the beam portion 51 in the example illustrated in FIG. 5 includes afirst extending portion 51 a, a second extending portion 51 b, and athird extending portion 51 c. It is preferable that the first extendingportion 51 a extend in the front-rear direction, and extend from anupper portion of the front wall portion 52 of the battery case 50 to anupper portion of the rear wall portion 54. In the side view of thevehicle body, the second extending portion 51 b and the third extendingportion 51 c are disposed below the first extending portion 51 a, andextend obliquely with respect to the first extending portion 51 a.Specifically, the second extending portion 51 b extends rearward anddownward from the upper portion of the front wall portion 52, and isattached to the bottom portion 55 of the battery case 50. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 5, a front end of the second extending portion 51 bis continuous with a front end of the first extending portion 51 a. Thethird extending portion 51 c extends forward and downward from the upperportion of the rear wall portion 54, and is attached to the bottomportion 55 of the battery case 50. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5,a rear end of the third extending portion 51 c is continuous with a rearend of the first extending portion 51 a. It is possible to improve therigidity of the battery case 50 while reducing the weight of the beamportion 51 by virtue of the shape of the beam portion 51. An opening 51d is provided inside the three extending portions 51 a, 51 b, and 51 c.An opening 51 e is provided between the first extending portion 51 a andthe third extending portion 51 c. It is possible to reduce the weightand cost of the beam portion 51 by virtue of the openings 51 d and 51 e.

The shape of the beam portion 51 is not limited to that in the presentexample. For example, the second extending portion 51 b may extend fromthe upper portion of the front wall portion 52 toward the lower portionof the rear wall portion 54. For example, the third extending portion 51c may extend from the upper portion of the rear wall portion 54 toward alower portion of the front wall portion 52. In this example, the beamportion 51 may not include the first extending portion 51 a. That is,the beam portion 51 may have an X shape. In addition, the beam portion51 may not necessarily include the second extending portion 51 b and/orthe third extending portion 51 c. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5,the lower end of the second extending portion 51 b is integrated withthe lower end of the third extending portion 51 c, in which the lowerends are attached to the bottom portion 55, however, the lower ends maybe separate from each other in the front-rear direction.

The beam portion 51 preferably has a plate shape. That is, the thicknessof the first extending portion 51 a in a plan view thereof is less thana vertical height Wa (refer to FIG. 5) in a side view and the length inthe front-rear direction. Similarly, the thickness of each of the secondextending portion 51 b and the third extending portion 51 c in a planview thereof is less than a vertical height in a side view thereof.Accordingly, it is easy to secure the lateral width of a space toaccommodate the batteries 30 while effectively preventing the batterycase 50 from being deformed. That is, the beam portion 51 does notbecome an obstacle for the arrangement of the batteries 30.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the attachment structure of the beamportion 51 with respect to the battery case 50, and schematicallyillustrates a cross-section of the battery case 50 taken along lineVI-VI in FIG. 5. A front end of the beam portion 51 is provided withattachment portions 51 f that extend in the rightward and leftwarddirection, respectively. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, theattachment portions 51 f extend from the front end of the firstextending portion 51 a in the rightward and leftward directions,respectively. The attachment portions 51 f are attached to the frontwall portion 52 of the battery case 50 in the front-rear direction. Thatis, the attachment portions 51 f and the front wall portion 52 are fixedtogether with tightening members 51 k such as bolts, which are insertedthrough the attachment portions 51 f and the front wall portion 52 fromthe front side or a rear side thereof. It is possible to prevent aclearance from occurring between the first extending portion 51 a andthe front wall portion 52 by virtue of this attachment structure. As aresult, it is easy for the beam portion 51 to receive a force of pushingfrom the front wall portion 52, which is applied from the foremost frameportion 40.

A rear end of the beam portion 51 is provided with attachment portions51 g that extend in the rightward and leftward direction, respectively.In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the attachment portions 51 gextend from the rear end of the first extending portion 51 a in therightward and leftward directions, respectively. The attachment portions51 g are attached to the rear wall portion 54 of the battery case 50 inthe lateral direction. Specifically, a convex portion is provided in therear wall portion 54, and the attachment portions 51 g and the convexportion are fixed together with tightening members 51 m such as bolts,which are inserted through the attachment portions 51 g and the convexportion from right and left sides thereof.

The attachment structure of the beam portion 51 is not limited to thatin the present example. For example, the front end of the beam portion51 may be attached to the front wall portion 52 in the lateraldirection. In addition, the rear end of the beam portion 51 may beattached to the rear wall portion 54 in the front-rear direction. Thebeam portion 51 may be integral with the battery case 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the beam portion 51 preferably includeslimiting portions 51 h and 51 j configured to limit the movement of thebatteries 30 in the front-rear direction. A front portion of the beamportion 51 in the example illustrated here is provided with two limitingportions 51 h that extend in the rightward and leftward directions,respectively. In addition, a rear portion of the beam portion 51 isprovided with two limiting portions 51 j that extend in the rightwardand leftward directions, respectively. A distance between the frontlimiting portions 51 h and the rear limiting portions 51 j correspond tothe length in the front-rear direction of each of the batteries 30. Thebeam portion 51 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes the limiting portions 51h and 51 j in upper portions of the beam portion 51, respectively. Thelimiting portions 51 h and 51 j in the example illustrated here extendfrom the first extending portion 51 a in the rightward and leftwarddirections. The rear end of the beam portion 51 is provided with twoattachment portions 51 g that are separate from each other in thevertical direction. The rear limiting portions 51 j are laid between thetwo attachment portions 51 g, respectively. Accordingly, compared towhen the limiting portions 51 j are located at positions that areseparate and forward from the attachment portions 51 g, it is possibleto increase the length in the front-rear direction of each of thebatteries 30.

For example, the material of the beam portion 51 may be different fromthat of the battery case 50. The material of the beam portion 51 may bethe same as that of the battery case 50. For example, the material ofthe beam portion 51 is preferably metal (aluminum, iron, an alloythereof, or the like), however, the material may be a composite materialincluding carbon fibers.

As described above, the number of batteries 30 accommodated in thebattery case 50 may be greater than two, for example. In this case, thebeam portions 51 may be provided between every two batteries 30, or thebeam portion 51 may be provided between only any two of the batteries30. The plurality of batteries arranged in the front-rear direction maybe disposed on right and left sides of the beam portion 51. The beamportion 51 is preferably arranged in the center of the battery case 50in the lateral direction.

As described above, the battery case 50 includes the right and left sidewall portions 53. Each of the side wall portions 53 includes steps thatextend on the outer surface thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 2, each ofthe side wall portions 53 preferably includes steps 53 a, 53 b, 53 c,and 53 d which extend rearward and downward. Accordingly, it is possibleto prevent the right and left side wall portions 53 from being deformedwhen the force is applied from the foremost frame portion 40 to thebattery case 50. The pivot shaft 8 of the rear arm 7 which supports therear wheel 5 is positioned rearward and downward of the front wallportion 52 of the battery case 50 (refer to FIG. 1). Accordingly, byvirtue of the steps 53 a, 53 b, 53 c, and 53 d, it is possible toincrease the strength of the side wall portions 53 against a force thatis applied from the front wall portion 52 of the battery case 50 to thepivot shaft 8. The extending direction of each of the steps 53 a, 53 b,53 c, and 53 d is not limited to that in the present example. Forexample, the steps 53 a, 53 b, 53 c, and 53 d may extend in thefront-rear direction, or may extend rearward and upward. Even in thiscase, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the frame whilepreventing the deformation of the right and left side wall portions 53.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the side wall portions 53 preferablyincludes a plurality of steps 53 a, 53 b, 53 c, and 53 d that arealigned in the vertical direction. Accordingly, it is possible tofurther increase the rigidity of the side wall portions 53. The numberof steps provided in each of the side wall portions 53 is not limited tothat in the present example, and may be one.

Each of the side wall portions 53 in the example illustrated in FIG. 2includes the step 53 a that is located at the highest position among theplurality of steps 53 a, 53 b, 53 c, and 53 d. A portion 53 e which ispositioned higher than the rear portion of the step 53 a is positionedcloser to the center of the direction of the vehicle width than aportion 53 f positioned lower than the step 53 a. When the rider sits onthe seat 6, the rider interposes the rear portion of the battery case 50with the right and left feet. By virtue of the above-mentioned step 53a, the lateral width of the rear portion of the battery case 50decreases. As a result, the rider can comfortably interpose the batterycase 50 with the feet.

Each of the side wall portions 53 in the example illustrated in FIG. 2includes a concave portion 53 g in an outer surface thereof. Edges ofthe concave portion 53 g define the steps 53 b and 53 c. The concavitiesand convexities provided on each of the side wall portions 53 for thesteps 53 a, 53 b, 53 c, and 53 d are not limited to that illustrated inFIG. 2, and may be appropriately changed.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of the side wall portion 53 ofthe battery case 50 and the case cover 60. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectionalview taken along line VIIa-VIIa illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 7B is across-sectional view taken along line VIIb-VIIb illustrated in FIG. 2.As illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the upper edges of the wall portions52, 53, and 54 of the battery case 50 are preferably provided with anoverhang portion 50 a that overhangs inward or outward of the batterycase 50. As described above, the upper surface of the battery case 50 isopen. For this reason, the upper edge of the battery case 50 is likelyto be deformed (that is, likely to be bent). It is possible to preventthe upper edge of the battery case 50 from being deformed by virtue ofthe overhang portion 50 a provided at the upper edge of the battery case50. The overhang portion 50 a preferably extends around the entirecircumference of the upper edge, however, the formation of the overhangportion 50 a is not necessarily limited to that in the present example.For example, the overhang portion 50 a may be provided at only the upperedge of each of the side wall portions 53.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the overhang portion 50 a preferablyoverhangs inward of the battery case 50. A lower edge of the case cover60 surrounds an outer side of the overhang portion 50 a. By virtue ofthis structure, it is possible to prevent water caught on the case cover60 from intruding into the battery case 50 while securing the rigidityof the upper edge of the battery case 50.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a seal member 50 b isattached to the overhang portion 50 a, and seals a gap between theoverhang portion 50 a and the case cover 60. In the example of thebattery case 50, the seal member 50 b is preferably provided on theentire circumference of the upper edge of the battery case 50, however,the provision of the seal member 50 b is not necessarily limited to thatin the present example. In the battery case 50 in the example describedhere, the seal member 50 b preferably is attached to the upper edge ofthe front wall portion 52, the upper edges of each of the side wallportions 53, and a portion of the upper edge of the rear wall portion54. Air in the battery case 50 can be discharged via a portion(hereinafter, referred to as an opening portion) of the upper edge ofthe rear wall portion 54, in which the seal member 50 b is not provided.Air in the battery case 50, which is warmed up by the batteries 30, canbe released to the outside via the opening portion.

As illustrated in FIG. 7A, it is preferable that the step 53 a of eachof the side wall portions 53 be positioned below the lower edge of thecase cover 60, and be provided along the lower edge of the case cover60. Accordingly, the step 53 a serves to secure the strength of thebattery case 50, and also functions as a support portion for the casecover 60. A front portion of the step 53 a in the example described herehas a lateral width (W1) greater than that of the rear portion thereof.The front portion of the step 53 a is positioned below the lower edge ofthe case cover 60, is provided along the lower edge of the case cover60, and supports a front portion of the lower edge of the case cover 60.The step 53 a may not necessarily serve to support the case cover 60.

The battery case 50 is preferably defined by the right and left casehalf bodies that are assembled together with tightening members such asbolts in the lateral direction. Each of the right and left case halfbodies is an integral member. Here, the right case half body defines aright portion of the battery case 50, and the left case half bodydefines a left portion of the battery case 50. Accordingly, it ispossible to improve the rigidity of the battery case 50 against avertical force. According to the structure of the battery case 50, thedies are slid in the lateral direction when the case half bodies arecast. For this reason, it is possible to relatively easily form theoverhang portion 50 a and the steps 53 a, 53 b, 53 c, and 53 d. When thebattery case 50 includes the right and left case half bodies, theattachment positions (positions for the insertion of the tighteningmembers) of the right case half body with respect to the left case halfbody are not provided in the side surfaces of the battery case 50. Forthis reason, it is possible to reduce the lateral width of the batterycase 50, that is, the vehicle width. The structure of the battery case50 is not limited to that in the present example. For example, thebattery case 50 may include a case half body that defines the frontportion of the battery case 50, and a case half body that defines therear portion thereof. As described above, the electric two-wheel vehicle1 in the example described here includes the case C defined by thebattery case 50 and the motor case 70 in upper and lower portions of thecase C, respectively. The case C includes the right case half body CRand the left case half body CL which are assembled together in thelateral direction. Even in a structure in which the battery case 50 andthe motor case 70 are separate, the battery case 50 may include theright and left case half bodies which are assembled together in thelateral direction. Even in this case, it is possible to improve therigidity of the battery case 50 against a vertical force applied to thevehicle body.

As described above, the overhang portion 50 a of the battery case 50illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B overhangs inward of the battery case 50.For this reason, it is necessary to make the length in the front-reardirection of each of the batteries 30 less than a distance between thefront wall portion 52 and the rear wall portion 54 of the battery case50. In addition, it is necessary to make the lateral width of each ofthe batteries 30 less than a distance between the beam portion 51 andeach of the side wall portions 53. In this structure, as illustrated inFIG. 6, limiting portions 58 a and 58 b configured to limit the movementof each of the batteries 30 in the front-rear direction are preferablyprovided on the inner surface of the battery case 50. A gap between thefront limiting portion 58 a and the rear limiting portion 58 bcorresponds to the length in the front-rear direction of each of thebatteries 30. Limiting portions 58 c and 58 d configured to limit thelateral movement of each of the batteries 30 are preferably provided onthe inner surface of the battery case 50. A distance between the beamportion 51 and each of the limiting portions 58 c and 58 d correspondsto the lateral width of each of the batteries 30. The limiting portions58 a, 58 b, 58 c, and 58 d and the limiting portions 51 h and 51 j ofthe beam portion 51 are provided at lower positions than that of theoverhang portion 50 a.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the limiting portions 58 a, 58 b, 58 c, and 58d are preferably provided in upper and lower portions of the batterycase 50. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the battery case 50includes front members 58Fu and 58FL that include the front limitingportions 58 a and 58 c and define the position of the front portion ofthe battery case 50. The front member 58Fu is attached to the innersurface of the upper portion of the battery case 50, and the frontmember 58FL is attached to the inner surface of the lower portion of thebattery case 50. The battery case 50 includes rear members 58Ru and 58RLthat include the rear limiting portions 58 b and 58 d and define theposition of the rear portion of the battery case 50. The rear member58Ru is attached to the inner surface of the upper portion of thebattery case 50, and the rear member 58RL is attached to the innersurface of the lower portion of the battery case 50. In an example, thelimiting portions 58 a, 58 b, 58 c, and 58 d are molded separately fromthe battery case 50. Accordingly, it is easy to change the material andthe position of the limiting portions 58 a, 58 b, 58 c, and 58 d inconformity with the size and the material of the batteries 30.Alternatively, the limiting portions 58 a, 58 b, 58 c, and 58 d may beintegrally molded with the battery case 50.

For example, the material of the limiting portions 58 a, 58 b, 58 c, and58 d is resin. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a force applied tothe batteries 30 when the batteries 30 come into contact with thelimiting portions 58 a, 58 b, 58 c, and 58 d. The material of thelimiting portions 58 a, 58 b, 58 c, and 58 d is not limited to resin,and may be metal.

In the electric two-wheel vehicle 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, a rearsuspension 9 is disposed to the rear of the battery case 50. Forexample, an upper end of the rear suspension 9 is attached to anattachment portion 54 b (refer to FIG. 2) that is located in the rearwall portion 54 of the battery case 50. For example, a lower end of therear suspension 9 is supported by the rear arm 7 via a linkagemechanism. The disposition of the rear suspension 9 is not limited tothat in the above-mentioned example. For example, the rear suspension 9may be disposed below the motor case 70.

As described above, the electric two-wheel vehicle 1 includes the casecover 60 that functions as a cover of the battery case 50 and isconfigured to be open and closed. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the casecover 60 is provided with a shaft portion 60 a by which the case cover60 is supported to be able to be opened and closed. The case cover 60 isprovided with an engaging member 62 to lock the case cover 60 in aclosed state. The vehicle body is provided with an engaged portion 50 cinto which the engaging member 62 is hooked. In the present example, theshaft portion 60 a is provided in a rearmost portion of the case cover60, and the engaging member 62 is provided in a foremost portion of thecase cover 60. Accordingly, when the case cover 60 is opened, the casecover 60 does not interfere with the handlebar 4, and thus it is easy toincrease the size of the battery case 50 in the forward direction. Thepositions of the shaft portion 60 a and the engaging member 62 are notlimited to those in the present example. For example, the shaft portion60 a may be provided in the foremost portion of the case cover 60, andthe engaging member 62 may be provided in the rearmost portion of thecase cover 60.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, for example, the battery case 50 is providedwith the engaged portion 50 c into which the engaging member 62 ishooked, and a support portion 50 d for supporting the shaft portion 60a. Specifically, the engaged portion 50 c and the support portion 50 dare integral with the case half bodies CR and CL of the battery case 50.Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the tolerance in distance betweenthe engaged portion 50 c and the support portion 50 d. As a result, itis possible to reduce a clearance between the lower edge of the casecover 60 and the upper edge of the battery case 50. The positions of theengaged portion 50 c and the support portion 50 d are not limited tothose in the present example. For example, the engaged portion 50 c maybe provided in the foremost frame portion 40.

The electric two-wheel vehicle 1 includes the bottom portion thatsupports the lower surface of each of the batteries 30. In the electrictwo-wheel vehicle 1 in the example described here, the battery case 50is provided with the bottom portion 55. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5,the bottom portion 55 is provided with springs 57 (hereinafter, thespring 57 is referred to as a lower spring). The bottom portion 55supports the lower surface of each of the batteries 30 via the lowersprings 57. The electric two-wheel vehicle 1 includes the cover thatcovers an upper surface of each of the batteries 30. Specifically, theelectric two-wheel vehicle 1 includes the case cover 60. As illustratedin FIG. 4, the case cover 60 includes springs 61 that interpose thebatteries 30 between the springs 61 and the lower springs 57 in thevertical direction (hereinafter, the spring 61 is referred to as anupper spring). In a state in which the case cover 60 is closed, and thebatteries 30 are accommodated in the battery case 50, the lower springs57 support the lower surface of each of the batteries 30, and can beelastically deformed in an extension direction and a compressiondirection (“the state in which the case cover 60 is closed” means astate where the engaging member 62 engages with the engaged portion 50 cand thus the case cover 60 is locked at the closed state.). In theabove-mentioned state, the upper springs 61 push the upper surface ofeach of the batteries 30, and can be elastically deformed in anextension direction and a compression direction. That is, the springconstant and the initial length of the springs 57 and 61 are determinedsuch that both of the spring 57 and 61 are allowed to extend and shrinkand the springs 57 and 61 and apply a force to the batteries 30 to holdthe batteries 30 there between even when the batteries 30 do not vibratein the vertical direction. Accordingly, even when the batteries 30vibrate in the vertical direction with respect to the vehicle body dueto the vibration of the vehicle body while the vehicle is travelling, itis possible to prevent the vibration of the batteries 30 from beingtransmitted to the rider by virtue of the lower springs 57 and the uppersprings 61. In addition, it is possible to significantly reduce orprevent an impact applied to the batteries 30. The spring constant andthe initial length of the springs 57 and 61 are preferably determinedsuch that the load applied to the springs 57 and 61 does not go beyondthe elastic limit even when a supposable maximum vibration(acceleration) is applied to the vehicle body (“elastic limit” is amaximum load applied to a spring, which allows the spring to completelyreturn to the initial state after the load is removed from the spring).

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the bottom portion 55 is preferably providedwith the plurality of lower springs 57 that are disposed while beingdistributed in the front-rear direction. As illustrated in FIG. 4, thecase cover 60 is preferably provided with the plurality of upper springs61 that are disposed while being distributed in the front-reardirection. The length in the front-rear direction of each of thebatteries 30 is greater than the width in the lateral direction thereof.The plurality of lower springs 57 and the plurality of upper springs 61are particularly effective for the batteries 30 with the above-mentionedshape.

The electric two-wheel vehicle 1 in the example described here includesthe plurality of batteries 30 that are arrayed in the lateral direction.The bottom portion 55 includes the plurality of lower springs 57 thatare arranged in the front-rear direction for each of the batteries 30.Specifically, the bottom portion 55 is provided with four lower springs57 for each of the batteries 30. The number of lower springs 57 providedfor each of the batteries 30 is not limited to four.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the plurality of lower springs 57 arepreferably disposed while being also distributed in the lateraldirection. That is, the plurality of lower springs 57 include the lowersprings 57 that support a right portion of the lower surface of each ofthe batteries 30, and the lower springs 57 that support a left portionof the lower surface of each of the batteries 30. Accordingly, it ispossible to further increase the support stability of the batteries 30supported by the lower springs 57. The disposition of the lower springs57 is not limited to that in the above-mentioned example, and may bevariously changed.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, connectors 71 are disposed in the bottomportion 55 of the battery case 50, and are electrically connected toconnectors 32 (refer to FIGS. 15 and 16) (to be described below) of thebatteries 30, respectively. The plurality of lower springs 57 include alower spring 57 that is positioned rightward or leftward of theconnector 71. Accordingly, it is possible to stably support thebatteries 30 in the vicinity of the connectors 71. The connectors 71 areprovided in a front portion of the bottom portion 55 of the battery case50. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, among the plurality of lowersprings 57, the lower spring 57 at a foremost position is positionedrightward of the connector 71.

The case cover 60 includes the plurality of upper springs 61 that aredisposed while being distributed in the front-rear direction for each ofthe plurality of batteries 30. Specifically, the case cover 60 includestwo upper springs 61 that are aligned in the front-rear direction foreach of the batteries 30. The number of upper springs 61 provided foreach of the batteries 30 may be greater than two, for example. The casecover 60 may include the plurality of upper springs 61 that are disposedwhile being distributed in the lateral direction for each of theplurality of batteries 30. That is, the plurality of upper springs 61may include an upper spring 61 that pushes a right portion of the uppersurface of each of the batteries 30, and an upper spring 61 that pushesa left portion of the upper surface of each of the batteries 30.Accordingly, it is possible to further increase the support stability ofthe batteries 30 supported by the upper springs 61 and the lower springs57.

As described above, the inner surface of the battery case 50 in theexample described here is provided with the limiting portions 58 a and58 b configured to limit the movement of each of the batteries 30 in thefront-rear direction (refer to FIG. 6). The inner surface of the batterycase 50 is provided with the limiting portions 58 c and 58 d configuredto limit the lateral movement of each of the batteries 30. In addition,the beam portion 51 includes the limiting portions 51 h and 51 j. Evenwhen the extension and compression of the upper springs 61 and the lowersprings 57 causes the batteries 30 to roll, it is possible to limit themovement in an oscillating direction to the movement in the verticaldirection by virtue of the limiting portions.

The electric two-wheel vehicle 1 is preferably provided with an adjustermechanism configured to adjust a force of interposing the batteries 30between the upper springs 61 and the lower springs 57. By virtue of theadjuster mechanism, it is possible to prevent the elastic force of thesprings 61 and 57 from applying an excessive load to the batteries 30,it is possible to optimize the force of interposing the batteries 30between the springs 61 and 57, and the batteries 30 can be preventedfrom rattling while travelling.

As described above, the case cover 60 is provided with the shaft portion60 a by which the case cover 60 is supported to be able to be opened andclosed (refer to FIG. 4). The case cover 60 is provided with theengaging member 62 for locking the case cover 60 in a closed state(refer to FIG. 2). The vehicle body is provided with the engaged portion50 c into which the engaging member 62 is hooked (refer to FIG. 2). Theadjuster mechanism preferably adjusts the height of at least one of theshaft portion 60 a, the engaging member 62, and the engaged portion 50c. Accordingly, since the adjuster mechanism is provided at a relativelyhigh position, the user has easy access to the adjuster mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the adjustermechanism. FIG. 8 illustrates the engaging member 62 provided on a frontside of the case cover 60, and the engaged portion 50 c. The adjustermechanism in the example illustrated in FIG. 8 is provided in the casecover 60. Specifically, a support member 64 is attached to a frontsurface of the case cover 60 using tightening members 63 such as bolts,for example. The engaging member 62 includes a hook portion 62 a thatengages with the engaged portion 50 c, and an operation portion 62 coperated by the user. The engaging member 62 can turn about a shaft 66that is inserted between the operation portion 62 c and the hook portion62 a and supported by the support member 64. The support member 64 isconfigured to move vertically relative to the front surface of the casecover 60. Specifically, holes are provided in the support member 64 andthe front surface of the case cover 60, in which the tightening members63 are respectively inserted through the holes. The holes are verticallyelongated. Accordingly, it is possible to make the support member 64move vertically relative to the case cover 60 by loosening thetightening members 63. It is possible to adjust the height of theengaging member 62 by moving the position of the support member 64.

The support member 64 in the example illustrated in FIG. 8 includes anextending portion 64 a that is positioned upward of the upper surface ofthe case cover 60. A member is attached to the extending portion 64 a,and defines a distance between the extending portion 64 a and the uppersurface of the case cover 60. Specifically, a bolt 64 b is insertedthrough the extending portion 64 a and the case cover 60 from theunderside of the case cover 60. A nut 64 c is attached to the bolt 64 b,and is disposed upward of the extending portion 64 a. It is possible todefine the distance between the extending portion 64 a and the uppersurface of the case cover 60 by rotating the nut 64 c.

For example, the height of the engaging member 62 provided in the casecover 60 can be adjusted by the following process. Initially, theengagement between the engaging member 62 and the engaged portion 50 cof the battery case 50 is released. In this example, the elastic forceof the upper springs 61 separate the case cover 60 from the battery case50. After an operator loosens the tightening members 63, the operatoradjusts a distance between the support member 64 and the battery case 50to an appropriate pre-set distance while vertically changing theposition of the support member 64 via the rotation of the nut 64 c.Thereafter, the user fixes the tightening members 63.

The adjuster mechanism is not limited to that in the above-mentionedexample. For example, the support member 64 may not be provided with theextending portion 64 a. The engaged portion 50 c may be attached to thebattery case 50 using tightening members such as bolts, and thus it maybe possible to vertically move the position of the engaged portion 50 c.The support portion 50 d (refer to FIG. 2) configured to support theshaft portion 60 a provided on a rear side of the case cover 60 may beattached to the battery case 50 using tightening members such as bolts,and thus it may be possible to vertically move the position of thesupport portion 50 d. Instead of the engaging member 62 of the casecover 60, a hook may be provided in the engaged portion 50 c of thebattery case 50, and the engaged portion 50 c may be supported to beable to turn.

As described above, the battery case 50 accommodates the plurality ofbatteries 30, and the case cover 60 covers the plurality of batteries30. The case cover 60 is provided with the adjuster mechanism (thesupport member 64, the tightening members 63, and the long holes throughwhich the tightening members 63 are inserted). For this reason, it ispossible to adjust a force that is applied to the entirety of thebatteries 30 from the upper springs 61 and the lower springs 57, byadjusting the height of the engaging member 62 of the case cover 60. Asa result, it is possible to improve the adjustability.

The engaging member 62 may be provided with a switch that detects themovement (state of the engagement between the engaging member 62 and theengaged portion 50 c) of the engaging member 62. The supply ofelectrical power from the batteries 30 to the vehicle body may bestopped when the engagement between the engaging member 62 and theengaged portion 50 c is released.

As described above, the connectors 71 are disposed in the bottom portion55 of the battery case 50. It is preferable that the connectors 71 besupported to move integrally with the connectors 32 even when thebatteries 30 oscillate between the upper springs 61 and the lowersprings 57, which will be described below in detail. Specifically, theconnectors 71 are preferably supported to be able to move in thevertical direction. Accordingly, even when the batteries 30 oscillatebetween the upper springs 61 and the lower springs 57, the connectors 71can follow the movement of the connectors 32, respectively, and as aresult, it is possible to prevent the terminals of the connectors 71 and32 from being worn out.

The electric motor 21 is preferably disposed below the batteries 30. Asdescribed above, the electric two-wheel vehicle 1 in the exampledescribed here includes the battery case 50. As illustrated in FIG. 5,the electric motor 21 is disposed below the battery case 50. Theelectric two-wheel vehicle 1 includes the motor case 70 as anaccommodating portion which accommodates the electric motor 21. Therotary shaft of the electric motor 21 is disposed in the lateraldirection. The speed reducer mechanism (the gear 22) and the outputshaft 23 are also disposed below the battery case 50, and the motor case70 accommodates the drive system 20 that includes the electric motor 21,the speed reducer mechanism, and the output shaft 23. The motor case 70supports the rotary shaft of the electric motor 21, the shaft of thespeed reducer mechanism, and the output shaft 23 while allowing theshafts to rotate.

As described above, in the example of the electric two-wheel vehicle 1,the motor case 70 is integral with the battery case 50. As describedabove, the electric two-wheel vehicle 1 in the example described hereincludes the case C. The case C includes the battery case 50 in theupper portion of the case C, and the motor case 70 in the lower portionthereof. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the case C includes of the right casehalf body CR and the left case half body CL. The right case half body CRdefines the right portion of the battery case 50, and a right portion ofthe motor case 70. The left case half body CL defines the left portionof the battery case 50, and a left portion of the motor case 70. Sincethe motor case 70 and the battery case 50 are integral in this manner,it is possible to improve the rigidity of the battery case 50 by virtueof the motor case 70.

The motor case 70 preferably is defined by two members (the right andleft case half bodies CR, CL in the example described here) that areassembled together in the lateral direction, for example. Accordingly,members (tightening members such as bolts) to assemble the two membersare not necessarily provided on the outer side of the side surfaces ofthe case C. Thus, increase of the width of the case C in the lateraldirection is prevented. And the size of the electronic motor 21 isincreased in the axis direction (the lateral direction) of theelectronic motor 21, compared with that in a structure where tighteningmembers (such as bolts) to assemble the two members are provided on theouter side of the side surfaces of the case C, and thus the size of theelectronic motor 21 can be increased in the radial direction thereof. Asa result, it is possible to reduce the size of the drive system 20including a motor control unit 29 (to be described below) and theelectric motor 21 in the front-rear direction.

The structures of the battery case 50 and the motor case 70 are notnecessarily limited to those in the present example. For example, aswill be described below, the battery case 50 and the motor case 70 maybe separate, and the motor case 70 may be fixed to the battery case 50using tightening members such as bolts. In this example, it is possibleto use the battery case 50 which is common for a plurality of vehiclebody models in which the structures of the motor case 70 are differentfrom each other. As described in FIG. 2, pivot support members 78 areattached to right and left rear portions of the motor case 70. The pivotsupport members 78 support the pivot shaft 8 of the rear arm 7.

The electric two-wheel vehicle 1 includes the motor control unit 29(refer to FIG. 5) configured or programmed to control the electric motor21. The motor control unit 29 includes an inverter that converts directcurrent of the batteries 30 into alternating current to drive theelectric motor 21. The motor control unit 29 receives electrical powerfrom the batteries 30, and supplies the electrical power to the electricmotor 21. The motor control unit 29 includes a control device configuredor programmed to control the inverter. For example, a signal is input tothe control device from a sensor that detects the amount of operationsof the accelerator grip. The control device controls the inverter basedon the amount of operations of the accelerator grip, which is detectedby the sensor.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the motor control unit 29 is disposed to thefront of the electric motor 21. In this layout, since wind is likely toblow against the motor control unit 29 while the vehicle is travelling,it is possible to improve the cooling performance of the motor controlunit 29. For example, the motor control unit 29 is disposed in aforemost portion of the case C.

The electric two-wheel vehicle 1 includes an accommodating portion thataccommodates the motor control unit 29. As illustrated in FIG. 5, theelectric two-wheel vehicle 1 in the example described here includes acase 28 as the accommodating portion. The case 28 is preferably arrangedsuch that the front surface thereof receives wind when the vehicle istravelling. Further, the front surface of the case 28 preferablyincludes a plurality of heat radiating fins 28 a. The case 28 in theexample illustrated in FIG. 5 is separate from the motor case 70, and isattached to the front side of the motor case 70. Here, the“accommodating portion” indicates a portion that accommodates the motorcontrol unit 29, and the shape of the accommodating portion is notnecessarily limited to the box-shaped case 28. For example, a portion inwhich the motor control unit 29 is disposed may be integral with themotor case 70, and the portion may function as the accommodatingportion. In this example, the accommodating portion may not benecessarily completely closed. The accommodating portion for the motorcontrol unit 29 may be supported not by the motor case 70 but by thebattery case 50.

A foremost portion of the motor case 70 in the example described here isprovided with a concave portion that is open forward, and the case 28 isfitted into the concave portion. In this example, right and left sidesof the case 28 are preferably covered with side wall portions of themotor case 70, respectively. A lower side of the case 28 is alsopreferably covered with a lower wall portion of the motor case 70. As aresult, the motor case 70 effectively protects the case 28. Theattachment structure of the case 28 is not limited to that in thepresent example. For example, the case 28 may be attached to a frontsurface of the motor case 70.

In the present example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the case 28 preferablyhas a box-shaped case main body 28 b that is open forward, and a cover28 c that is attached to a front side of the case main body 28 b and hasthe fins 28 a.

As described below in detail, the batteries 30 include the connectors 32electrically connected to the connectors 71 provided in the vehiclebody, respectively. Each of the connectors 32 in the example illustratedhere is provided in a front portion of each of the batteries 30. Thus,the connectors 71 are positioned in the front portion of the batterycase 50. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a distance between theconnectors 32 and 71 and the motor control unit 29, and reduceelectrical power loss in a path from the batteries 30 to the motorcontrol unit 29. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the connectors 71 aredisposed upward of the motor control unit 29. It is possible to moreeffectively reduce the distance between the connectors 71 and the motorcontrol unit 29 by virtue of this layout. As a result, it is possible tomore effectively reduce the length of a wire harness (not illustrated)that connects the connectors 71 and the motor control unit 29 and reduceelectrical power loss.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the present example, the case 28 isvertically disposed in an erect posture in the side view of the vehiclebody. In other words, the case 28 is disposed in a posture in which thevertical height of the case 28 is greater than the length in thefront-rear direction thereof. It is possible to achieve a compact layoutin the front-rear direction of the drive system 20 that includes thecase 28 (the motor control unit 29) and the electric motor 21 by virtueof the disposition of the case 28. By virtue of the disposition of thecase 28, it is possible to increase the size of the front surface of thecase 28, and thus it is possible to improve the cooling performance ofthe motor control unit 29. In addition, it is easy to secure a distancebetween the front wheel 2 and the front surface of the case 28, and itis possible to prevent mud or water from striking against the case 28while the vehicle is travelling.

As described above, the front surface of the case 28 in the exampledescribed here includes the plurality of heat radiating fins 28 a. Sinceit is possible to increase the size of the front surface of the case 28in the above-mentioned disposition of the case 28, it is easy to providethe fins 28 a. As described in FIG. 2, the plurality of fins 28 a arepreferably aligned in the lateral direction. Accordingly, even when mudor water strikes against the front surface of the case 28, it ispossible to prevent the mud or water from accumulating between the fins28 a.

The case 28 in the example illustrated in FIG. 5 is obliquely disposedsuch that the lower portion of the case 28 is positioned fartherrearward than the upper portion thereof. By virtue of the disposition ofthe case 28, it is possible to more effectively prevent mud or waterfrom striking against the case 28 while the vehicle is travelling. It iseasy to avoid interference between the front wheel 2 and the case 28even when the front wheel 2 moves vertically relative to the vehiclebody. A louver may be attached to the front surface of the case 28 suchthat the louver prevents mud or water from striking against the case 28and allows wind to flow to the front surface of the case 28.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the present example, the case 28 isdeviated upward with respect to the electric motor 21. In other words, avertical center C1 of the case 28 is positioned higher than the centerof the electric motor 21. By virtue of the layout of the case 28, it ispossible to prevent mud or water from striking against the case 28 whilethe vehicle is travelling. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, a lowersurface of the case 28 is positioned higher than a lower surface 70 a ofa portion of the motor case 70, which accommodates the electric motor21.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the battery case 50 is inclined with respectto a horizontal direction (parallel or substantially parallel with aroad surface) such that the front portion of the battery case 50 ispositioned higher than the rear portion thereof. In other words, thebottom portion 55 of the battery case 50 is inclined with respect to thehorizontal direction such that the front portion of the bottom portion55 is positioned higher than the rear portion thereof. The case 28 ispositioned below the front portion of the battery case 50. It is easy toincrease the height of the case 28 by virtue of this layout. As aresult, it is easy to prevent mud or water from striking against thefront surface of the case 28.

In FIG. 4, straight line L1 is a straight line in a direction along thebottom portion 55 of the battery case 50, that is, a direction along thelower surface of the battery 30. In the electric two-wheel vehicle 1 inthe example described here, the rotary center (shaft center) C1 of theelectric motor 21 is disposed to be vertically deviated with respect tostraight line L2 that passes through a rotary center (shaft center) C2of the output shaft 23 and is parallel or substantially parallel withstraight line L1 in the side view of the vehicle body. In other words,the shaft center C2 of the output shaft 23 is vertically deviated withrespect to a straight line that passes through the shaft center C1 ofthe electric motor 21 and is along the lower surface of the battery 30.In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the rotary center C1 of theelectric motor 21 is disposed below straight line L2. Since the layoutof the output shaft 23 and the electric motor 21 is designed asdescribed above, it is possible to reduce a distance between straightline L3 passing through the rotary center C1 of the electric motor 21(the straight line L3 is a straight line that passes through the rotarycenter C1 of the electric motor 21 and is perpendicular or substantiallyperpendicular to straight line L1) and the output shaft 23 whilesecuring a distance between the rotary shaft of the electric motor 21and the output shaft 23. That is, it is possible to reduce the distancebetween the electric motor 21 and the output shaft 23 in a directionalong straight line L1. As a result, it is possible to achieve a compactarrangement of the drive system 20, and it is easy to secure a space toaccommodate the motor control unit 29 in the front of the electric motor21 and below the front portion of the battery case 50.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the rotary center C3 of the gear22 of the drive system 20 is positioned lower than a straight line thatconnects the rotary center C1 of the electric motor 21 and the rotarycenter C2 of the output shaft 23. Accordingly, it is possible to achievea more compact arrangement of the drive system 20, and it is easy tosecure a space to accommodate the motor control unit 29 in the front ofthe electric motor 21 and below the front portion of the battery case50.

The electric two-wheel vehicle 1 includes a battery 81 (hereinafter, thebattery 81 is referred to as an electrical component battery) thatsupplies electrical power to electrical components such as lamps (forexample, a head lamp and a tail lamp), various sensors, and meters. Theelectrical component battery 81 outputs electrical power at a voltagelower than that of the batteries 30. As illustrated in FIG. 5, in thepresent example, the electrical component battery 81 is disposed betweenthe drive system 20 and the batteries 30. The electrical componentbattery 81 is disposed inside the case C. The electrical componentbattery 81 is charged with electrical power supplied from the batteries30. For this reason, it is possible to reduce a distance between thebatteries 30 and the electrical component battery 81 by virtue of thelayout of the electrical component battery 81.

In the present example, the electrical component battery 81 is disposedbelow the electric motor 21. That is, the electrical component battery81 is disposed in a space that is provided above the electric motor 21by disposing the electric motor 21 at a position lower than the straightline L2. The layout of the electrical component battery 81 is notnecessarily limited to that in the present example. Other electricalcomponents (for example, relays to control the energizing of theelectrical components such as lamps from the electrical componentbattery 81 and fuses) may be disposed in the space above the electricmotor 21, instead of or together with the electrical component battery81.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the bottom portion 55 of the battery case 50described here includes a component accommodating member 55 b. Thecomponent accommodating member 55 b preferably includes a box-shapedaccommodating portion 55 c in a portion of the component accommodatingmember 55 b. The electrical component battery 81 is disposed inside theaccommodating portion 55 c. The accommodating portion 55 c preferablyhas a box shape with an open top. The bottom portion 55 includes a coverplate 55 a that covers the opening of the accommodating portion 55 c.The component accommodating member 55 b is fixed to an inner surface ofthe case C that defines the battery case 50 and the motor case 70.

Wire harnesses extend from the accommodating portion 55 c and areconnected to the electrical components. FIG. 5 illustrates a wireharness 82 that extends rearward from the accommodating portion 55 c. Asdescribed above, in the battery case 50 in the example described here,the seal member 50 b is not provided in a portion (opening portion) ofthe upper edge of the rear wall portion 54. For example, the wireharness 82 extends in an inner upper region of the battery case 50, andthen extends farther rearward than the battery case 50 through theopening portion provided on the upper edge of the rear wall portion 54.

The electric two-wheel vehicle 1 preferably includes a DC-DC converterthat lowers the voltage of the batteries 30 to a charging voltage of theelectrical component battery 81, and a relay to control the energizingof the motor control unit 29 from the batteries 30. These components arealso accommodated in the motor case 70, and are disposed below thebottom portion 55. For example, these components are covered with thecover plate 55 a of the bottom portion 55.

As described above, each of the batteries 30 is provided with theconnector 32 (refer to FIGS. 15 and 16), and the bottom portion 55 ofthe battery case 50 is provided with the connectors 71 that areelectrically connected to the connectors 32, respectively. Each of theconnectors 71 includes a plurality of terminals. As illustrated in FIG.5, each of the connectors 71 in the example described here includespin-shaped terminals 71 a and 71 b that protrude upward. The terminal 71a is a power supply terminal configured to supply electrical power tothe electric motor 21 to drive the electric motor 21. The terminal 71 bis a signal terminal for communication between a built-in controller 34(refer to FIG. 16) of the batteries 30 and the motor control unit 29provided in the vehicle body. Each of the connectors 32 is provided withterminal 32 a and 32 b (refer to FIG. 15) into which the terminals 71 aand 71 b are fitted, respectively. Alternatively, each of the connectors32 may be provided with pin-shaped terminals, and each of the connectors71 may be provided with terminals into which the pin-shaped terminalsare fitted, respectively. Each of the connectors 71 described hereincludes a guide 71 f that extends upward. The guide 71 f is fitted intoa concave portion in the connector 32, and guides the connector 32 withrespect to the position of the connector 71. The guide 71 f may not benecessarily provided.

The batteries 30 are supported by elastic members. For example, theelastic members are members such as springs or rubber cushions whichallow the oscillation of the batteries 30 and reduce vibrationtransmitted to the batteries 30 from the vehicle body. As describedabove, the batteries 30 in the example described here include the lowersprings 57 as the elastic members. The batteries 30 can be verticallyattached to, and detached from, the vehicle body, and when the batteries30 are mounted on the vehicle body, the batteries 30 are supported bythe lower springs 57. For this reason, when the vehicle is travelling,the batteries 30 oscillate in the vertical direction. The connectors 71are configured so that it is possible to switch the states of theconnectors 71 between a state (hereinafter, referred to as an unlockstate) in which the movement of the connectors 71 is allowed to followthe oscillation of the batteries 30 and a state (hereinafter, referredto as a lock state) in which the movement of the connectors 71 isrestricted. Each of the connectors 71 in the example described here isallowed to vertically move in the unlock state, and the verticalmovement of each of the connectors 71 is restricted in the lock state.Accordingly, by bringing the connectors 71 into the unlock state whilethe vehicle is travelling, it is possible to prevent a load from beingapplied between the terminals 71 a and 32 a and between the terminals 71b and 32 b, that is, prevent friction between the terminals 71 a and 32a and between the terminals 71 b and 32 b. Further, by bringing theconnectors 71 into the lock state when the user mounts the batteries 30on the vehicle body, it is possible to smoothly fit the terminals 71 aand 71 b into the terminals 32 a and 32 b, respectively.

It is preferable that the electric two-wheel vehicle 1 be provided witha user-operable member (hereinafter, referred to as an operationmember), and the states of the connectors 71 are switched between thelock state and the unlock state based on the movement of the operationmember. Accordingly, it is possible to switch the states of theconnectors 71 upon the intention of the user.

It is possible to switch the states of the connectors 71 by variousmethods. For example, it is possible to switch the states of theconnectors 71 using an actuator. In this example, for example, a switchconnected to a controller configured or programmed to control theactuator may be provided as the operation member. When the actuator isprovided, the operation member may not be necessarily provided. Forexample, when the batteries 30 are likely to be attached and detached(for example, when the motor control unit is turned off), the controllerconfigured or programmed to control the actuator preferably brings theconnectors 71 into the lock state. The controller preferably brings theconnectors 71 into the unlock state when the motor control unit isturned on.

A mechanism (hereinafter, referred to as a transmission mechanism) maybe provided to transmit the movement of the user-operable operationmember to the connectors 71, and the states of the connectors 71 may beswitched when the user moves the operation member. In this example, theoperation member is arranged to move between two pre-set positions, theconnectors 71 are brought into the lock state when the operation memberis located at a first position, and the connectors 71 are brought intothe unlock state when the operation member is located at a secondposition. An example of the operation member is a lever that is directlyor indirectly connected to the connectors 71. In the electric two-wheelvehicle 1 described here, as will be described below in detail, the casecover 60 is provided as the operation member. The operation memberoperated by the user is preferably disposed above the batteries 30.Accordingly, the user has easy access to the operation member.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the connector 71 and an example of thetransmission mechanism that transmits the movement of the case cover 60as the operation member to the connector 71. FIG. 10 is a view when thetransmission mechanism is seen in a direction of arrow X illustrated inFIG. 9. FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views of the connector 71 and alock member 79 of the transmission mechanism.

The connectors 71 are supported to be able to vertically move, and canvertically move to follow the vertical movement of the batteries 30. Itis possible to support the connectors 71 by various methods. Forexample, support bases (not illustrated) to support the connectors 71may be provided at the bottom of the bottom portion 55, and theconnectors 71 may be respectively attached to the support bases so as tobe able to vertically move in a pre-set range. The connectors 71 may besupported to be able to vertically move by the cover plate 55 a. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 9, openings are provided in the coverplate 55 a so as to correspond to the connectors 71 in size, and theconnectors 71 are respectively fitted into the openings. Each of theconnectors 71 includes two flanges 72 a and 73 a that are disposedseparate from each other in the vertical direction. An edge of theopening of the plate 55 a is positioned between the two flanges 72 a and73 a. A distance between the flanges 72 a and 73 a is greater than thethickness of the plate 55 a. Accordingly, the connectors 71 may be ableto move vertically with respect to the cover plate 55 a. The structureof the cover plate 55 a, in which the connectors 71 are supported to beable to vertically move, is not limited to that in the present example,and may be changed in various forms.

Each of the connectors 71 in the example described here includes a base72 to which the terminals 71 a and 71 b are fixed, and an outercircumferential member 73 that is attached to an outer circumference ofthe base 72. The flange 72 a is provided at a lower end of the base 72.The flange 73 a is provided in the outer circumferential member 73.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the transmission mechanism in the exampledescribed here includes the lock member 79 disposed below the connector71. The lock member 79 is movable between an engaging position and arelease position. The engaging position is the position of the lockmember 79 which is illustrated by a solid line in FIG. 9, andillustrated by an alternate long and two short dashes line in FIG. 10.The release position is the position of the lock member 79 which isillustrated by an alternate long and two dashes line in FIG. 9, andillustrated by a solid line in FIG. 10. When the lock member 79 islocated at the engaging position, the lock member 79 is engaged with theconnector 71, and the connector 71 is brought into the lock state. Thatis, when the lock member 79 is located at the engaging position, thelock member 79 presses the connector 71 in the vertical direction.Accordingly, when the user puts the battery 30 into the battery case 50,it is possible to prevent the connector 32 of the battery 30 frompushing the connector 71 to move downward. As a result, it is possibleto smoothly connect the connector 71 and the connector 32. When the lockmember 79 is located at the release position, the lock member 79separates from the connector 71, and the connector 71 is brought intothe unlock state. That is, when the lock member is located at therelease position, the lock member 79 separates downward from theconnector 71. For this reason, the connector 71 can vertically move inthe pre-set range (for example, a range allowed by a gap between the twoflanges 72 a and 73 a). In this structure, the lock member 79 in theexample described here moves downward from the engaging position to therelease position.

The lock member 79 is connected to the operation member that is moved bya user's operation. When the operation member is located at the firstposition, the lock member 79 is disposed at the release position, andwhen the operation member is located at the second position, the lockmember 79 is disposed at the engaging position. As illustrated in FIG.9, the case cover 60 is preferably used as the operation member. Thecase cover 60 is connected to the lock member 79 via a wire 78. The casecover 60 is configured to move about the shaft portion 60 a between aclosed position (the first position) and an open position (the secondposition). The open position is the position of the case cover 60 whichis illustrated by an alternate long and two dashes line in FIG. 9. Theclosed position is the position of the case cover 60 which isillustrated by a solid line in FIG. 9. When the case cover 60 is locatedat the closed position, the lock member 79 is disposed at the releaseposition. When the case cover 60 is located at the open position, thelock member 79 is lifted upward via the wire 78, and is disposed at theengaging position. In this structure, when the rider opens the casecover 60 for the attachment and detachment of the battery 30, theconnector 71 is brought into the lock state. When the rider closes thecase cover 60 so that the vehicle is configured to move, the connector71 is brought into the unlock state.

For example, a tube 78 b of the wire 78 is fixed to the inner surface ofthe battery case 50. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, oneend portion of the wire 78 is fixed to an end portion of the lock member79 via a rod 78 c extending in the vertical direction. The connectionstructure between the wire 78 and the lock member 79 is not limited tothat in the present example, and may be appropriately changed.

As described above, the plurality of batteries 30 are disposed insidethe battery case 50 in the example described here. The bottom portion 55of the battery case 50 is provided with the plurality of connectors 71that are respectively connected to the connectors 32 of the plurality ofbatteries 30. The transmission mechanism transmits the movement of thecase cover 60 to the plurality of connectors 71. That is, when the casecover 60 is disposed at the open position, the transmission mechanismbrings the plurality of connectors 71 into the lock state, and when thecase cover 60 is disposed at the closed position, the transmissionmechanism brings the plurality of connectors 71 into the unlock state.

The battery case 50 in the example described here accommodates twobatteries 30 that are aligned in the lateral direction. The bottomportion 55 of the battery case 50 is provided with two connectors 71that are aligned in the lateral direction (refer to FIG. 3). Asillustrated in FIG. 10, the lock member 79 is positioned below the twoconnectors 71. The lock member 79 extends in the lateral direction, andtwo wires 78 are respectively connected to the one end portion and theopposite end portion of the lock member 79. The two wires 78 areattached to the case cover 60. In this structure, when the case cover 60is disposed at the open position, and the lock member 79 is disposed atthe engaging position, the lock member 79 presses the two connectors 71upward. As a result, the two connectors 71 are brought into the lockstate. When the case cover 60 is disposed at the closed position, andthe lock member 79 is disposed at the release position, the lock member79 separates downward from the two connectors 71. As a result, the twoconnectors 71 are brought into the unlock state. Since a single lockmember 79 is disposed below the two connectors 71, it is possible totransmit the movement of the case cover 60 to the two connectors 71. Thetransmission mechanism may not necessarily include the lock member 79.In this case, the connector 71 may include a portion to which the wire78 is connected.

The lock member 79 preferably limits the movement of the connector 71 ina direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the movementdirection of the connector 71 which is caused by the oscillation of thebattery 30. In the example described here, the connector 71 movesvertically due to the oscillation of the battery 30. Accordingly, thelock member 79 preferably limits the movement of the connector 71 in thefront-rear and lateral directions. By virtue of this structure, it ispossible to smoothly fit the terminals 71 a and 71 b of the connector 71into the terminals 32 a and 32 b of the connector 32 of the battery 30,respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, a lower portion of the connector 71 in theexample described here is provided with an engaging member 74. Theengaging member 74 includes two facing surfaces 74 b that face eachother in the front-rear direction. The two facing surfaces 74 b areinclined such that a gap between the two facing surfaces 74 b graduallyincreases downward. In contrast, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the lockmember 79 includes a fitting portion 79 b that is fitted into the gapbetween the two facing surfaces 74 b. The fitting portion 79 b includesan inclined outer surface that conforms to the shapes of the two facingsurfaces 74 b. When the lock member 79 is disposed at the engagingposition, the fitting portion 79 b and the facing surfaces 74 b limitthe movement of the connector 71 in the front-rear direction. The shapeof each of the lock member 79 and the engaging member 74 is not limitedto that in the present example. For example, two facing surfaces may beprovided in the lock member 79, and the engaging member 74 may beprovided with a fitting portion that is fitted into a gap between thefacing surfaces.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, in the lock member 79 in the exampledescribed here, two facing surfaces 79 a are respectively provided onfront and rear sides of the fitting portion 79 b, and face each other inthe lateral direction. The two facing surfaces 79 a are inclined suchthat a gap between the two facing surfaces 79 a decreases downward. Incontrast, the engaging member 74 includes a fitting portion 74 a that isfitted into the gap between the two facing surfaces 79 a. The fittingportion 74 a has an inclined outer surface that conforms to the shapesof the two facing surfaces 79 a. When the lock member 79 is disposed atthe engaging position, the fitting portion 74 a and the facing surfaces79 a limit the lateral movement of the connector 71. The shape of eachof the lock member 79 and the engaging member 74 is not limited to thatin the present example. For example, two facing surfaces may be providedin the engaging member 74, and the lock member 79 may be provided with aportion that is fitted into a gap between the facing surfaces.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, a lower portion 71 c of the power supplyterminal 71 a extends downward beyond the base 72. An electrical wireconnected to the motor control unit 29 is connected to the lower portion71 c via a bolt 71 d, for example. An electrical wire 71 e extendsdownward from the signal terminal 71 b beyond the base 72. Theelectrical wire 71 e is also connected to the motor control unit 29.

As described above, the case cover 60 is configured to move about theshaft portion 60 a between the open and closed positions. An end portion78 a of the wire 78 is connected to the inner surface of the case cover60. As illustrated in FIG. 9, for example, the end portion 78 a of thewire 78 is attached to an attachment member 65 fixed to the innersurface of the case cover 60. When the case cover 60 is located at theclosed position, a connection position (P1) between the end portion 78 aof the wire 78 and the case cover 60 is positioned to the front of theshaft portion 60 a. The wire 78 extends downward from the connectionposition (P1) and is positioned further forward than the shaft portion60 a. For this reason, when the case cover 60 moves from the closedposition to the open position, the wire 78 is pulled upward. As aresult, the lock member 79 moves from the release position to theengaging position. In contrast, when the case cover 60 is located at theopen position, a connection position (P2) between the end portion 78 aof the wire 78 and the case cover 60 is positioned farther rearward thanthe shaft portion 60 a. The wire 78 extends forward and downward fromthe connection position (P2) while passing a position below the shaftportion 60 a. That is, when the case cover 60 moves between the open andclosed positions, the connection positions (P1 and P2) are set so thatthe wire 78 goes through the position of the shaft portion 60 a. Byvirtue of the connection position (P2), it is possible to prevent thepulling force of the wire 78 from generating a force to close the casecover 60 when the case cover 60 is located at the open position.

As described above, the batteries 30 are capable of being verticallyattached to, and detached from, the vehicle body. The terminals 71 a and71 b of the connector 71 are vertically fitted into the terminals 32 aand 32 b of the connector 32 of the battery 30, respectively. Anengaging member is preferably provided in one of the connector 71 andthe battery 30 so as to limit a relative vertical movement between theconnector 71 and the connector 32. The engaging member is configured tomove between an engaging position and a release position. When theengaging member is located at the engaging position, the engaging memberengages with the other of the connector 71 and the battery 30, andlimits the upward separation of the battery 30 from the connector 71.When the engaging member is located at the release position, theengaging member releases the other of the connector 71 and the battery30, and allows the battery 30 to separate upward from the connector 71.By virtue of the engaging member, it is possible to improve connectionstability between the connector 71 and the connector 32 while thevehicle is travelling.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the connector 71 is provided withan engaging member 75. The engaging member 75 is configured to move in adirection perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the verticaldirection. The engaging member 75 in the example illustrated in FIG. 9is configured to move, in the front-rear direction, about a shaftportion 75 a positioned in a lower portion of the engaging member 75. Incontrast, an engaged portion 32 d (illustrated by an alternate long andtwo short dashes line in FIG. 9, and refer to FIG. 16) is provided in afront surface of the battery 30, and the engaging member 75 is fittedinto the engaged portion 32 d. Accordingly, when the engaging member 75is disposed at an engaging position where the engaging member 75 isfitted into the engaged portion 32 d, the battery 30 is restricted fromseparating upward from the connector 71. When the engaging member 75separates forward from the engaged portion 32 d, and is disposed at arelease position, the battery 30 can separate upward from the connector71.

The electric two-wheel vehicle 1 is provided with an operation member 76for moving the engaging member 75 in the front-rear direction. Forexample, the operation member 76 is a user-operable member. An upperportion of the operation member 76 in the example illustrated in FIG. 9is provided with an operated portion 76 a operated by the user. Theoperated portion 76 a is preferably disposed upward of the upper surfaceof the battery 30. Accordingly, the user has easy access to the operatedportion 76 a. A lower portion of the operation member 76 is providedwith an engaging portion 76 b that is engaged with the engaging member75 so as to be able to move the engaging member 75 in the front-reardirection. An example of the operation member 76 is a lever, and theoperation member 76 includes a shaft portion 76 c between the engagingportion 76 b and the operated portion 76 a. Accordingly, when theoperated portion 76 a moves forward, the engaging portion 76 b movesrearward about the shaft portion 76 c, and the engaging member 75 isfitted into the engaged portion 32 d of the battery 30. In contrast,when the operated portion 76 a moves rearward, the engaging portion 76 bmoves forward about the shaft portion 76 c, and the engaging member 75separates from the engaged portion 32 d of the battery 30. For example,the shaft portion 76 c is supported by a support member provided in theinner surface of the battery case 50.

The engaging member 75 is not limited to that in the above-mentionedexample. For example, the engaging member 75 may be disposed to engagewith a side surface or a rear surface of the battery 30. The operationmember 76 may not be a lever.

As described above, the electric two-wheel vehicle 1 in the exampledescribed here are provided with the plurality of connectors 71 that arealigned in the lateral direction. As illustrated in FIG. 10, theplurality of connectors 71 are respectively provided with the engagingmembers 75. The lower portion of the operation member 76 includes theplurality of engaging portions 76 b that engage with the engagingmembers 75 of the plurality of connectors 71, respectively. The electrictwo-wheel vehicle 1 in the example described here preferably is providedwith two connectors 71. The operation member 76 illustrated in FIG. 10includes the two engaging portions 76 b that respectively extendrightward and leftward from a lower end of a rod 76 d extending downwardfrom the shaft portion 76 c.

The structure, in which the movement of the battery 30 is limited withrespect to the connector 71, is not necessarily limited to theabove-mentioned example. For example, the battery 30 may be providedwith an engaging member that is configured to move in the directionperpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction.FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic views illustrating a battery 130 withsuch a configuration. FIG. 13A is a front view of the battery 130, andFIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view taken along line b-b illustrated inFIG. 13A.

A lower portion of the battery 130 includes an engaging member 131. Theengaging member 131 includes a hook portion 131 a. The engaging member131 is arranged in order for the hook portion 131 a to be able to movein the front-rear direction about a shaft portion 131 b. In FIGS. 13Aand 13B, the battery case 50 is provided with a connector 171. Theconnector 171 is provided with an engaged portion 171 a such as aconcave portion or a hole, into which the hook portion 131 a of theengaging member 131 can be fitted.

The engaging member 131 of the battery 130 is preferably provided tomove while connected with an operation member operated for theattachment and detachment of the battery 130 by the user. The operationmember is configured to move between an engaging position at which theengaging member 131 engages with an engaged portion 171 a of theconnector 171, and a release position at which the engagement isreleased. Accordingly, it is possible to make engagement between theengaging member 131 of the battery 130 with the engaged portion 171 a ofthe connector 171, and allow release there between via a simpleoperation.

For example, the battery 130 is provided with a carrying handle 133 asthe operation member grasped by the user, and the carrying handle 133and the engaging member 131 are connected to each other such that themovement of the carrying handle 133 is linked with the movement of theengaging member 131.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the carrying handle 133includes a shaft portion 133 a. The carrying handle 133 can turn aboutthe shaft portion 133 a. Specifically, the carrying handle 133 isconfigured to move between an erect posture with respect to an uppersurface of the battery 130 (the posture of the carrying handle 133illustrated by a solid line in FIGS. 13A and 13B, hereinafter, referredto as a usage posture) and a lying posture with respect to the uppersurface of the battery 130 (the posture of the carrying handle 133illustrated by an alternate long and short two dashes line in FIG. 13B,hereinafter, referred to as a non-usage posture). The shaft portion 133a and the engaging member 131 are connected to an operation portion 131c of the engaging member 131 via a connection member 134 such as a wire.Specifically, the shaft portion 133 a and the engaging member 131 areconnected to the operation portion 131 c such that the engaging member131 is disposed at the release position when the carrying handle 133 isin the usage posture, and the engaging member 131 is disposed at theengaging position when the carrying handle 133 is in the non-usageposture. In the present example, an end portion 133 b of the shaftportion 133 a is connected to the operation portion 131 c of theengaging member 131 via the connection member 134. The operation portion131 c extends from the shaft portion 133 a in a radial direction(rearward in FIG. 13A) of the shaft portion 133 a. A connection positionbetween the connection member 134 and the shaft portion 133 a isseparate from a rotary center of the shaft portion 133 a. When thecarrying handle 133 is in the usage posture, the operation portion 131 cis pulled upward by the connection member 134, and the engaging member131 is disposed in the release position. In contrast, when the carryinghandle 133 is in the non-usage posture, the operation portion 131 c isbrought down, and the engaging member 131 is disposed in the engagingposition. In this structure, for example, the engaging member 131 ispressed toward the engaging position by a spring or the like.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the battery 30. FIG. 15 is a side view of thebattery 30. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the battery 30.As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the battery 30 in the exampledescribed here preferably has a rectangular or substantially rectangularparallelepiped shape that is slender in the front-rear direction. Thebattery 30 includes a housing 31. Battery cells 33 are disposed insidethe housing 31. A battery management controller 34 (hereinafter, thebattery management controller is simply referred to as a controller)configured or programmed to manage the battery cells 33 is disposedinside the housing 31. The controller 34 monitors the states of thebattery cells 33, for example, the voltage or temperature thereof, andcontrols the charging and discharging of the battery 30. The controller34 includes a communication module configured to transmit and receivethe states of the battery cells 33 to the motor control unit 29 mountedon the vehicle body.

The controller 34 is disposed to the front or the rear of the batterycells 33. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the controller34 is disposed to the front of the battery cells 33. As illustrated inFIG. 16, the housing 31 includes a right housing half body 31R and theleft housing half body 31L that define right and left portions of thehousing 31, respectively, and are assembled together in the lateraldirection. Since the controller 34 is disposed to the front or the rearof the battery cells 33, it is possible to reduce the lateral (directionof the vehicle width) width of the battery 30. The housing 31 is definedby the right housing half body 31R and the left housing half body 31Lthat are assembled together in the lateral direction. For this reason,tightening members 31 d for fixing the housing half bodies 31R and 31Ltogether, for example, bolts are not required to be provided on rightand left sides of the battery 30, and thus it is possible to furtherreduce the lateral width of the battery 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the right housing half body 31R preferablyhas a box shape that is open in the leftward direction, and the lefthousing half body 31L preferably has a box shape that is open in therightward direction. The right housing half body 31R and the lefthousing half body 31L include flanges 31 a and 31 b on the edges thereoffacing each other, respectively. The flanges 31 a and 31 b are fixedtogether with the tightening members 31 d. As illustrated in FIG. 15,the flanges 31 a and 31 b are preferably provided on the entirerespective circumferences of the housing half bodies 31R and 31L. Thatis, the flanges 31 a and 31 b are preferably provided on front, upper,rear, and lower sides of the housing half bodies 31R and 31L,respectively. As described above, the battery 30 is interposed betweenthe upper springs 61 of the case cover 60 and the lower springs 57. Byvirtue of the flanges 31 a and 31 b, it is possible to increase thestrength of the housing 31 against a force that an upper surface of thehousing 31 receives from the upper springs 61, and a force that a lowersurface of the housing 31 receives a force from the lower springs 57.The housing half bodies 31R and 31L may not be provided with therespective flanges 31 a and 31 b.

As described above, the battery 30 can be vertically attached to, anddetached from, the vehicle body. That is, the electric two-wheel vehicle1 in the example described here includes the battery case 50 with anopen top, and thus the battery 30 can be vertically attached to, anddetached from, the vehicle body. The housing half body 31R and thehousing half body 31L are assembled together in the lateral direction.For this reason, it is possible to reduce the lateral width of thebattery case 50, that is, the vehicle width. When the housing is definedby two housing half bodies that are assembled together in the verticaldirection, the opening of the battery case 50 is required to have anenough lateral width to allow tightening members to fix the two housinghalf bodies together to pass through the opening of the battery case 50.Since the housing half body 31R and the housing half body 31L areassembled together in the lateral direction, the opening of the batterycase 50 is not required to have a large width to allow the tighteningmembers to pass through the opening of the battery case 50. As a result,it is possible to reduce the lateral width of the battery case 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the controller 34 includes a plurality ofswitching elements (for example, field effect transistors (FETs)) 34 ato control the charging and discharging of the battery 30. The battery30 preferably includes a heat radiating member 35 to cool the switchingelements 34 a. As described above, the battery 30 includes the connector32. As illustrated in FIG. 16, in the connector 32 in the exampleillustrated here, the terminals 32 a and 32 b are held by an insulator32 c. The heat radiating member 35, the connector 32, and the controller34 are positioned in the same direction with respect to the batterycells 33. In the battery 30 in the example described here, the heatradiating member 35, the connector 32, and the controller 34 arepositioned to the front of the battery cells 33.

One housing half body of the right housing half body 31R and the lefthousing half body 31L preferably has a lateral width greater than thatof the other housing half body. At least one of the heat radiatingmember 35 and the connector 32 is disposed in one housing half bodyhaving the greater width. Accordingly, it is possible to increase thedegree of freedom in the layout of the heat radiating member 35 and theconnector 32. In the battery 30 in the example described here, the lefthousing half body 31L has a width WL greater than a width Wr of theright housing half body 31R (refer to FIG. 14). As illustrated in FIG.16, in the example of the battery 30, the connector 32 is provided inthe left housing half body 31L, and the heat radiating member 35 isprovided in the right housing half body 31R. Accordingly, a connectorwith a large width can be utilized as the connector 32.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the terminals 32 a and 32 b of the connector32 are preferably disposed in line in the front-rear direction.Accordingly, it is easy to prevent an increase of the lateral width ofthe battery 30. The layout of the heat radiating member 35 and theconnector 32 is not limited to that in the present example. For example,the heat radiating member 35 may be disposed in one housing half bodyhaving the greater width, and the connector 32 may be disposed in theother housing half body. In this example, it is easy to increase thesize of the heat radiating member 35. Both of the heat radiating member35 and the connector 32 may be disposed in one housing half body havingthe greater width.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, in the example of the battery 30, a concaveportion 31 c is provided in a lower portion of the left housing halfbody 31L. The connector 32 is fitted into the concave portion 31 c andis attached to the left housing half body 31L. The concave portion 31 cpreferably has a size corresponding to the connector 32. The concaveportion 31 c is provided at a corner of the lower portion of the lefthousing half body 31L, and the connector 32 defines the front, lower,and side surfaces of the battery 30. The connector 32 is provided withthe engaged portion 32 d into which the engaging member 75 of theconnector 71 is fitted. Accordingly, it is possible to improveconnection stability between the connector 32 and the connector 71. Asillustrated in FIG. 15, each of the flanges 31 a and 31 b preferablyincludes a portion that further protrudes downward than a lower surface(surface from which the terminals 32 a and 32 b are exposed) of theconnector 32. Accordingly, it is possible to protect the connector 32 byvirtue of the flanges 31 a and 31 b.

As described above, in the battery 30 in the example described here, thecontroller 34 is disposed to the front of the battery cells 33. In thepresent example, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the plurality of switchingelements 34 a are preferably attached to a foremost portion of asubstrate 34 b. Accordingly, it is possible to secure a distance betweenthe battery cells 33 and the switching elements 34 a. The controller 34may be disposed to the rear of the battery cells 33. For example, theplurality of switching elements 34 a are preferably attached to arearmost portion of the substrate 34 b.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, in the present example, the plurality ofswitching elements 34 a are vertically disposed in line. The switchingelements 34 a at a low position are preferably disposed from theconnector 32 in the lateral direction. It is possible to reduce thevertical height of the battery 30 by virtue of this layout.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the heat radiating member 35 in the exampledescribed here includes a portion 35 a that is disposed to the front ofthe switching elements 34 a. The heat radiating member 35 extendsvertically along the plurality of switching elements 34 a. An opening 31e is provided in the front surface of the housing 31, and the heatradiating member 35 is fitted into the opening 31 e of the housing 31.Accordingly, it is possible to thermally expose the heat radiatingmember 35 from the front surface of the battery 30. By virtue of thelayout of the heat radiating member 35, it is possible to ensure a spaceinside the battery case 50 for cooling the heat radiating member 35while preventing an increase in vehicle width by increasing the size ofthe battery case 50 in the forward direction. The heat radiating member35 is preferably made of metal. A protective seal may be pasted on theheat radiating member 35, or painting may be applied to the heatradiating member 35. Here, the protective seal and the paining may haveinsulating properties. In this case, the heat radiating member 35 isthermally exposed from the front surface of the battery 30. The seal orthe painting may not be necessarily applied. Even in this case, a frontsurface of the heat radiating member 35 is exposed from the frontsurface of the battery 30. As described above, the controller 34 may bedisposed to the rear of the battery cells 33. In this example, anopening is provided in the rear surface of the housing 31, and the heatradiating member 35 is fitted into the opening of the housing 31.Accordingly, it is possible to thermally expose the heat radiatingmember 35 from the rear surface of the battery 30.

The opening 31 e is preferably provided in one housing half body of thetwo housing half bodies 31R and 31L. That is, the other housing halfbody does not include the edge for the opening 31 e. Accordingly, it ispossible to reduce the tolerances of the opening 31 e and the heatradiating member 35, compared with a structure where the opening 31 e isprovided over both of the housing half bodies 31R and 31L, and improvethe sealing properties of the housing 31. As illustrated in FIG. 16, inthe example of the battery 30, the opening 31 e is provided in the righthousing half body 31R. The left housing half body 31L does not includethe edge for the opening 31 e. The opening 31 e is not necessarilylimited to that in the present example. For example, concave portionsare respectively provided in the edges of the two housing half bodies31R and 31L, and the opening 31 e may be formed by assembling the twoconcave portions together.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 16, the opening 31 e is provided inthe front surface of the housing 31, and another surface of the housing31 connecting to the front surface. Specifically, the opening 31 e isprovided in the front and side surfaces of the housing 31. Accordingly,the heat radiating member 35 is thermally exposed from the front andside surfaces of the battery 30. It is possible to increase the exposedarea of the heat radiating member 35 without increasing the lateralwidth of the battery 30 by virtue of this structure. As illustrated inFIG. 16, in the example of the battery 30, the opening 31 e is providedin the front and side surfaces of the right housing half body 31R havinga small width. In the battery 30 illustrated here, since the heatradiating member 35 is attached to the right housing half body 31Rhaving a small width, but the front and left surfaces of the righthousing half body 31R are used, it is possible to secure the exposedarea of the heat radiating member 35. The heat radiating member 35defines the front and right side surfaces of the battery 30.

The heat radiating member 35 in the example described here preferablyhas an L-shaped cross section. That is, the heat radiating member 35includes the portion 35 a that defines the front surface of the battery30, and a portion 35 b that is bent with respect to the portion 35 a anddefines the side surface of the battery 30. An outer circumferentialportion of the heat radiating member 35 is fixed to the edge of theopening 31 e. By virtue of the heat radiating member 35, it is possibleto reduce a space occupied in the inner space of the housing 31 by theheat radiating member 35. As a result, it is easy to dispose othercomponents inside the housing 31.

The controller 34 includes the substrate 34 b on which components suchas the switching elements 34 a are mounted. As illustrated in FIG. 16,the substrate 34 b is preferably disposed along the side surface of thebattery 30. In other words, the substrate 34 b is preferably disposedalong an inner surface of a side wall portion of the housing 31. It ispossible to secure the proper size of the substrate 34 b withoutincreasing the lateral width of the battery 30 by virtue of the layoutof the substrate 34 b. In the example illustrated in FIG. 16, thesubstrate 34 b is disposed along a side wall portion of the righthousing half body 31R. The switching elements 34 a are attached to thesubstrate 34 b in a state of being erect, and aligned vertically alongthe front surface of the battery 30.

In the example described here, the housing half bodies 31R and 31L arepreferably made of resin. When the housing half bodies 31R and 31L aremolded, molding dies of a molding machine are slid in the lateraldirection. As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the housing 31 in theexample described here has a lateral width less than the length in thefront-rear direction and vertical height of the housing 31. According,it is possible to decrease the amount of sliding of the molding dies,and thus it is possible to smoothly separate molded parts (that is, thehousing half bodies 31R and 31L) from the molding dies.

As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the carrying handle 36 for the userto hold is attached to the upper surface of the housing 31. As describedabove, in the battery 30 in the example described here, the controller34 is disposed to the front of the battery cells 33. In the presentexample, the carrying handle 36 is preferably deviated rearward withrespect to a center Cb of the battery 30 in the front-rear direction.Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the battery 30 from beinginclined when the user lifts the battery 30 upward. The controller 34may be disposed to the rear of the battery cells 33. In this case, thecarrying handle 36 is preferably deviated forward with respect to thecenter Cb of the battery 30 in the front-rear direction.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described electrictwo-wheel vehicle 1, and can be changed in various forms. For example,the battery case 50 and the motor case 70 may be separate. FIGS. 17A and17B are views illustrating an example of a battery case 150 and a motorcase 170 which are separate. FIG. 17A is a side view, and FIG. 17B is across-sectional view taken along line b-b illustrated in FIG. 17A. InFIGS. 17A and 17B, the motor case 170 is vertically fixed to the batterycase 150 using a plurality of tightening members 177 such as bolts, forexample. The motor case 170 in the example illustrated in FIGS. 17A and17B includes an upper edge 170 b that extends along a lower edge of thebattery case 150 in the front-rear direction. The upper edge 170 b isfixed to the lower edge of the battery case 150 using the tighteningmembers 177. It is possible to increase the number of fixing placesbetween the motor case 170 and the battery case 150, and improve therigidity of the motor case 170 and the battery case 150 by virtue of theupper edge 170 b. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 17A and 17B,similar to the battery case 50, two batteries 30 are accommodated in thebattery case 150. The beam portion 51 is disposed between the twobatteries 30.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the motor case 170 isattached to a lower side of the battery case 150, and is anaccommodating portion for the electric motor 21. As described above, thebattery case 150 functions as a portion of the vehicle body frame. Thatis, the motor case 170 is attached to a lower side of the vehicle bodyframe. A frame for supporting the motor case 170 is not provided on alower side of the motor case 170. By virtue of the attachment structureof the motor case 170, it is possible to increase the axial size of theelectric motor 21, and reduce the radial size of the electric motor 21while reducing the lateral width (width of the battery case 150 in anexample of the electric two-wheel vehicle described here) of the vehiclebody frame. As a result, it is possible to reduce, in the front-reardirection, the size of the drive system 20 that includes the motorcontrol unit 29 and the electric motor 21.

The number of batteries 30 accommodated in the battery case 50 may begreater than two, for example. FIGS. 18A and 18B are views illustratinga battery case 150A that can accommodate three batteries 30. FIG. 18A isa side view, and FIG. 18B is a cross-sectional view taken along line b-billustrated in FIG. 18A. Three batteries 30 are aligned in the batterycase 150A in the lateral direction. Similar to the example illustratedin FIGS. 17A and 17B, the battery case 150A and the motor case 170 areseparate. The motor case 170 is vertically fixed to the battery case150A using the tightening members 177. Even in the present exampleillustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the upper edge 170 b of the motor case170 extends along the a lower edge of the battery case 150A in thefront-rear direction. The upper edge 170 b is fixed to the lower edge ofthe battery case 150A using the tightening members 177. In FIGS. 18A and18B, the tightening members 177 are provided inside the battery case150A. The positions of the tightening members 177 are not limited tothose in the present example. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 17Aand 17B, the tightening members 177 may be provided outside the batterycase 150. As illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B, in a preferred embodimentin which three batteries 30 are provided, it is preferable that thebattery case 150A include two beam portions 51, and the beam portions 51be respectively disposed between adjacent two batteries 30.

FIG. 19 is a side view illustrating an electric two-wheel vehicle 100according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.19, the same reference signs are assigned to the same elements andsubstantially the same places as in the above-mentioned examples.Hereinafter, compared to the electric two-wheel vehicle 1, the differentpoints will be mainly described, and other points are the same as in theelectric two-wheel vehicle 1.

Similar to the electric two-wheel vehicle 1, the electric two-wheelvehicle 100 includes the battery case 50. The battery case 50accommodates the plurality of batteries 30. The electric two-wheelvehicle 100 includes the motor case 70. For example, the motor case 70is integral with the battery case 50. As described above, the motor case70 and the battery case 50 may be separate.

The electric two-wheel vehicle 100 includes a rear suspension 109. Therear suspension 109 is disposed below the motor case 70. For example, afront end of the rear suspension 109 is supported by a lower surface ofthe motor case 70. For example, a rear end of the rear suspension 109 isconnected to a rear arm 107 via a linkage mechanism.

The electric two-wheel vehicle 100 includes an upper cover 169 that isdisposed upward of the case cover 60 and covers the case cover 60. Theupper cover 169 preferably extends upward. A seat 106 is disposed to therear of the upper cover 169. The rider can place the body on the uppercover 169 by virtue of the shape and layout of the upper cover 169. Forexample, the upper cover 169 preferably has a shape resembling a fueltank of a motorcycle equipped with an engine.

It is preferable that the upper cover 169 be connected to the case cover60 via the engaging member 62 to lock the case cover 60 into the batterycase 50, and can turn about the shaft 66 (refer to FIG. 8) of theengaging member 62. Accordingly, the engaging member 62 easily turnsabout the shaft 66. That is, the hook portion 62 a of the engagingmember 62 easily engages with the engaged portion 50 c provided in thebattery case 50, and the engagement is easily released. For example, theupper cover 169 is attached to the operation portion 62 c (refer to FIG.8) of the engaging member 62, and is integral with the operation portion62 c.

FIG. 20 is a view illustrating an example of the connection structurebetween the upper cover 169 and the case cover 60. FIGS. 21A and 21B areviews illustrating the movement of the upper cover 169 and the casecover 60. As described above, the engaging member 62 is provided at thefront end of the case cover 60. In an example, a front portion of theupper cover 169 includes an attachment portion 169 a that is attached tothe operation portion 62 c of the engaging member 62 using tighteningmembers such as bolts. Accordingly, the upper cover 169 can turn aboutthe shaft 66 of the engaging member 62 together with the engaging member62. The structure of the upper cover 169 is not limited to that in thepresent example. For example, the upper cover 169 may be integral withthe engaging member 62 so as to be able to turn about the shaft 66. Forexample, a rear portion of the upper cover 169 includes an engagingportion 169 b that can be locked and unlocked with respect to thevehicle body. For example, the engaging portion 169 b can be switchedbetween a lock state and an unlock state via a key operation performedby the rider. A lower edge 169 c of the upper cover 169 illustrated inFIG. 20 is bent to extend upward, and the case cover 60 is partiallyexposed. The shape of the upper cover 169 is not limited to that in thepresent example, and may be changed in various forms.

For example, the case cover 60 may be opened and closed in the followingmanner. The locking of the engaging portion 169 b of the upper cover 169is released via a key operation, and the engaging portion 169 b isbrought into the unlock state. As illustrated in FIG. 21A, the uppercover 169 turns upward and forward about the shaft 66. Accordingly, thehook portion 62 a of the engaging member 62 is disconnected from theengaged portion 50 c of the battery case 50. Thereafter, the case cover60 together with the upper cover 169 turns upward and rearward about theshaft portion 60 a provided in the rear portion of the case cover 60.

The upper cover 169 may not necessarily include the above-mentionedstructure. That is, the upper cover 169 may be attached to the casecover 60 using tightening members such as bolts, and may move about theshaft portion 60 a.

The plurality of batteries 30 may not be necessarily disposed in thebattery case 50. FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view illustrating abattery case 150B configured to accommodate one battery 30. Similar tothe example illustrated in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the battery case 150B andthe motor case 170 illustrated in FIG. 22 are separate. The motor case170 is vertically fixed to the battery case 150B using the tighteningmembers 177. Even in the example illustrated in FIG. 22, the upper edge170 b of the motor case 170 extends along a lower edge of the batterycase 150B in the front-rear direction, and is fixed to the lower edge ofthe battery case 150B using the tightening members 177.

The battery accommodating portion configured to accommodate the battery30 may not be necessarily the battery case 50 that defines a portion ofthe frame. In this example, the battery 30 may be disposed between rightand left frames which are disposed on right and left sides of thebattery 30 and extend in the front-rear direction, respectively. In thisexample, the battery 30 may be disposed on a support portion supportedby the right and left frames or the motor case 170.

The connector 71 may be disposed farther rearward than the electricmotor 21. In this example, the motor control unit 29 may be disposedrearward of the electric motor 21.

The battery 30 may not be necessarily interposed between the upperspring 61 and the lower spring 57. For example, only the lower spring 57may be provided to support the lower surface of the battery 30. Thebattery 30 may not be necessarily attached and detached with respect tothe vehicle body in the vertical direction.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will beapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeand spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention,therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A saddle-type electric vehicle comprising: anelectric motor configured to drive a drive wheel; a battery configuredto be attached to, and detached from, the vehicle and to supplyelectrical power to the electric motor; a connector provided on thebattery; an elastic member configured to support the battery; and aconnector on the vehicle configured to be electrically connected to theconnector on the battery; wherein the connector on the vehicle isconfigured to be switched between an unlock state in which movement ofthe connector on the vehicle follows oscillations of the battery duringtravelling of the vehicle, and a lock state in which the movement of theconnector on the vehicle is restricted.
 2. The saddle-type electricvehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a user-operableoperation member configured to switch the connector on the vehiclebetween the unlock state and the lock state.
 3. The saddle-type electricvehicle according to of claim 2, wherein the operation member is locatedhigher on the vehicle than the battery.
 4. The saddle-type electricvehicle according to claim 3, wherein the operation member includes acover configured to cover the battery, and to be opened and closed. 5.The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the firstposition of the operation member is a closed position of the cover, andthe second position of the operation member is an open position of thecover.
 6. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 2, whereinthe operation member is configured to move between a first position anda second position; and the vehicle includes a transmission mechanismconfigured to transmit movement of the operation member to the connectoron the vehicle, to bring the connector on the vehicle into the unlockstate when the operation member is located at the first position, and tobring the connector on the vehicle into the lock state when theoperation member is located at the second position.
 7. The saddle-typeelectric vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the transmissionmechanism includes a lock member configured to move between an engagingposition at which the lock member engages with the connector on thevehicle and the connector on the vehicle is brought into the lock state,and a release position at which the lock member separates from theconnector on the vehicle and the connector on the vehicle is broughtinto the unlock state; and the operation member and the lock member areconnected to each other, the lock member is disposed at the releaseposition when the operation member is located at the first position, andthe lock member is disposed at the engaging position when the operationmember is located at the second position.
 8. The saddle-type electricvehicle according to claim 6, wherein the battery includes a pluralityof batteries; the connector on the vehicle includes a plurality ofconnectors respectively connected to the connectors on the plurality ofbatteries; and the transmission mechanism is configured to limit themovement of the plurality of connectors on the vehicle when theoperation member is located at the second position, and to allow themovement of the plurality of connectors on the vehicle when theoperation member is located at the first position.
 9. The saddle-typeelectric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the battery is configuredto be vertically attached to, and detached from, the vehicle; thevehicle includes a battery accommodating portion including a bottomportion on which the battery is disposed; and the elastic member and theconnector on the vehicle are provided in the bottom portion.
 10. Thesaddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the batteryis configured to be attached to, and detached from, the vehicle in afirst direction; and one of the connector on the vehicle and theconnector on the battery includes an engaging member configured to movebetween an engaging position at which the engaging member engages withthe other of the connector on the vehicle and the connector on thebattery so that the engaging member prevents separation of the batteryfrom the connector on the vehicle in the first direction, and a releaseposition at which the engaging member releases the other of theconnector on the vehicle and the connector on the battery so that thebattery is allowed to separate from the connector on the vehicle in thefirst direction.
 11. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim10, wherein the engaging member is configured to move while connectedwith an operation member configured to attach and detach the batteryfrom the vehicle by an operator.
 12. The saddle-type electric vehicleaccording to claim 11, wherein the operation member is a carrying handleof the battery.